Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for swift implementation of decisions reached during his visit to China last month during a meeting with Beijing's envoy, urging expanded cooperation under the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and follow-up on agreements signed between companies from the two countries.
Details of the Meeting
Sharif's meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad focused on ensuring that the outcomes of the prime minister's May visit to China are promptly acted upon. During that visit, Sharif held talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, emphasizing economic cooperation, advancing CPEC projects, and attracting greater Chinese investment.
Key Agreements Signed
The visit resulted in several business-to-business memorandums of understanding across multiple sectors, including agriculture, climate change, renewable energy, information technology, electric vehicle infrastructure, and pharmaceutical technology. These agreements were signed during a business-to-business investment conference in Hangzhou.
Emphasis on CPEC 2.0
The prime minister's office stated that Sharif stressed the need to expand cooperation under CPEC 2.0, particularly in agriculture, IT, industries including special economic zones (SEZs), and mines and minerals. CPEC 2.0 represents the next phase of the corridor project, shifting focus from large-scale infrastructure to industrial cooperation and mineral resource development.
“It is now incumbent upon the two sides to work together to deliver on the decisions taken by the leadership of the two countries,” Sharif told the Chinese envoy, according to the statement.
Other Issues Discussed
The meeting also covered accelerating work on the Karakoram Highway realignment project, expanding security, counterterrorism and defense cooperation, and economic and financial support. Both sides exchanged views on regional and international developments.
Chinese Envoy's Response
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong congratulated Sharif on what he described as a successful visit to China and reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan across a range of sectors.
