Political Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative and the Vice Premier of the State Council of China, Mr. He Lifeng, called on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad Monday.
The conversation was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality that has been the hallmark of Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on several aspects of bilateral relationship including CPEC and bilateral economic and financial cooperation.
Welcoming Vice-Premier He Lifeng to Pakistan, the Prime Minister congratulated him on being promoted as the Vice-Premier of China in March this year. Appreciating China’s support for Pakistan’s economic development, the Prime Minister observed that as strategic partners and trusted friends, the two countries have always stood by each other in difficult times, as evidenced by Chinese support to Pakistan in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic and devastating floods in Pakistan.
Noting the unanimity of views between the two countries on regional issues, both leaders reiterated their resolve to support each other on all issues of their core interests.
In his remarks, Vice Premier He conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message of China’s firm support to Pakistan’s prosperity and development. Vice Premier He underlined that Pakistan-China friendship was unique and has withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal ties between the peoples of two nations. He reiterated that as an iron-brother and strategic partner, China would continue its existing economic and financial support to Pakistan. Welcoming the Prime Minister’s vision for deepening trade and investment ties with Pakistan, Vice Premier He conveyed China’s willingness to enhance Pakistan’s agro and food exports to China.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, the two sides agreed on the centrality of CPEC for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed their firm commitment to continue working together for realizing its shared objectives. It was also agreed that 10th anniversary of CPEC celebrations constituted a fresh starting point to further expand CPEC as envisaged by the leadership of the two countries.
The Chinese delegation included Mr Guo Wei, Deputy Secretary General of the State Council of China, Mr Sun Weidong, Vice Minister of Foreign Ministry, Mr Cong Liang, Vice Chairman National Development & Reform Commission, Mr Xuan Changneng, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Wang Kebing, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Mr Wang Liping, Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, Ms. Pang Chunxue, Charge d’Affaires, Chinese Embassy Islamabad and other senior Chinese officials.
The Pakistan side included Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Commerce, Mr Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Minister for Interior, Ms Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information, Mr Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Railways, Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, MOS for Foreign Affairs, Syed Tariq Fatemi, SAPM and senior officials from relevant ministries.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice Premier He oversaw the ceremony for signing of agreements, MoUs and other documents covering areas including agriculture; industrial cooperation; transport connectivity, etc.
Later, the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honour of H.E. Mr. He Lifeng and the accompanying delegation.
