Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has concluded his official visit to China with a strong commitment to enhancing business-to-business cooperation between the two nations. During his trip, Sharif assured Chinese investors of comprehensive facilitation and robust security in Pakistan, highlighting the vast potential for bilateral trade and investment across sectors such as technology, industry, agriculture, mining, steel, textiles, and renewable energy.
Admiring the Chinese model of development, Sharif vowed to replicate similar economic transformations in Pakistan. This pledge was solidified with the signing of 32 memorandums of understanding (MOUs), marking a historic moment in private-sector cooperation between the two countries.
Despite political rivalries within Pakistan, leaders from all major political parties view the relationship with China as a cornerstone of the nation's foreign policy. This unified stance underscores Pakistan's determination to deepen strategic ties with China, learn from its development experiences, and support the one-China principle.
Facing economic challenges, Sharif's visit to key Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Xi'an was aimed at attracting Chinese investment to rejuvenate Pakistan’s economy. By engaging with leading Chinese companies in oil and gas, energy, information and communication, and emerging technologies, Sharif seeks to improve Pakistan’s economic outlook.
A central focus of the visit was the upgrade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). CPEC has been instrumental in Pakistan’s infrastructure development, energy generation, and job creation, and Sharif is committed to further enhancing its impact.
This level of cooperation and commitment signals a promising future for Sino-Pakistan relations, with significant potential benefits for economic growth and regional stability.
Reference(s):
Sharif's resolve to follow China's model augurs well for Sino-Pak ties
cgtn.com