BEIJING – The government of Pakistan and China signed multiple Memorandum of Understandings on Saturday to enhance the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
The prestigious MoUs signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
The first MoU relates to cooperation within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road initiative.
Three agreements were pertaining to economic and technical cooperation worth 3.4 billion Yuan for Gwadar port and East Bay expressway (1.5+0.8 billion RMB for Gwadar Airport, 1.1 billion RMB for East bay Expressway).
Two other MoUs, one for the implementation of ML-1 and establishment of Havelian Dry Port and another framework agreement on implementation of up gradation of ML-1 and establishment of Havelian Dry Port, were also inked.
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Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal signed the MoUs on behalf of the Government of Pakistan.
Prime minister Nawaz Sharif is on an official visit to China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping to attend Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation being held in Beijing on May 14 and 15.
The Belt and Road Forum (BRF) is part of the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” (OBOR) initiative launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013.
He is accompanied by chief ministers of all four provinces, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir and IT Minister Anushay Rehman, among others.
The BRF is being attended by 27 other Heads of State/Government. The Forum is aimed at promoting common development through win-win cooperation. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the flagship programme of OBOR.
The BRF will comprise a High-Level Dialogue and Leaders’ Roundtable. The Prime Minister will address the High-Level Dialogue as well as both the sessions of Leader’s Roundtable.
