Chinese envoy calls on Pak PM Shehbaz, discusses bilateral ties

Chinese ambassador Jiang Zaidong on Wednesday called on Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who stressed the need to follow up on decisions made during his recent visit to China.

The premier paid a four-day official trip to China from May 23 to 26 during which he met top Chinese leaders and the two sides signed several MoUs and agreements to deepen their relations.  

Jiang called on PM Shehbaz in the presence of the PM’s Adviser Tauqir Shah, the PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch, according to an official statement.

PM Shehbaz talked about his trip to China, conveying his warm regards to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, while fondly recalling “his most productive and substantive meetings with the Chinese leadership during his recent visit to China”.

“While conveying his firm resolve to ensure the further strengthening of Pakistan-China All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the Prime Minister emphasised the need to immediately initiate necessary actions for follow-up on the important decisions taken during his visit to China,” the statement stated.

He particularly stressed the need to expand cooperation in key areas under CPEC 2.0, particularly agriculture, IT, industries, including SEZs, and mines & minerals.