Shahbaz signs seven agreements, 17 MoUs in Beijing

BEIJING: The first-ever in the history of China and the Communist Party, more than four receptions were arranged in the honour of any international guest and it happened with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif who got an unprecedented importance from his host Chinese dignitaries and 24 agreements were signed between the two countries in two days.  Shahbaz, in a single day by signing seven agreements and 17 memorandum of understandings, surprised the Chinese authorities.

Interacting with the Chinese deputy foreign minister, Shahbaz said Pakistan was standing by China in the face of all issues whether Tibet or sea rights.

Four receptions were held by senior officials of the Communist Party of China in honour of Shahbaz Sharif within two days. The chief minister’s visit to China is of unprecedented importance in the wake of international and regional affairs.

Shahbaz met Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui in Beijing on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, he said the Pak-China friendship was a precious asset of every Pakistani. He said Pakistan had always supported China on “One China Policy”, Tibet as well as regional and international issues. 

Zhang Yesui said China had always stood by Pakistan and would continue to help Pakistan achieve prosperity. The CM said Pakistani traders and industrialists had a golden opportunity in the form of Chinese cooperation and should benefit from it for the promotion of mutual trade and prosperity of Pakistan. 

As many as seven agreements and 17 MoUs were signed at the ceremony. The agreements were pertaining to textile industry, establishment of industrial estates, training of master trainers in different skills, promotion of trade fairs and exhibitions, energy, infrastructure, water treatment and other sectors.

Shahbaz said the pace of implementation of development projects in Pakistan under the CPEC was unprecedented. He said Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Pakistan in April 2015 and different agreements were signed. Then, he said, a speedy implementation of these agreements started and these projects were being completed at an extraordinary pace. 

Meanwhile, talking to the representatives of Chinese print and electronic media at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, he said the Pak-China love and friendship was based on golden principle of honesty, trust and transparency. He said the people of China and Pakistan should learn each other’s languages as it would bring them closer. He said students were ambassador of their countries. The Punjab government would send more youths to China to learn Chinese language. 

Shahbaz also met Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank President Jin Liqunin. Giving assurance of provision of funds on a priority basis for the projects being completed with Chinese cooperation, he said the experience of Chinese financial institutions working in Pakistan had been very good and there would be no shortage of resources for the projects in the future as well. 

Meanwhile, Shahbaz met National Development and Reform Commission Vice Chairman Nuer Baikeli. The pace of progress on projects under the CPEC was discussed in the meeting. The CM said CPEC projects guaranteed prosperity of Pakistan. He said work on the projects was being carried out with commitment and speed.

Later, he met National Energy Administration Administrator Noor Bakri who said the pace of work on power projects in Punjab was unprecedented in the history of the world. The chief minister said the completion of power projects was a mission of the PML-N government. 

Shahbaz also visited the Command and Control Centre of Transport Management in Beijing and the Public Security Bureau. He inspected various PSB sections. A briefing was given to him there. On the occasion, Shahbaz informed that the Punjab government had evolved a project of establishment of command and control centres for the protection of life and property of people and a big programme was being implemented for facilitating the masses by benefiting from information technology.