Central leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N and Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz has said that there is a need to further promote Pak-China economic and strategic co-operation in view of the changing world situation. He said that setting up of Pak-China economic corridor is of vital importance with regard to peace and economic progress in the region. He was talking to a high level Chinese delegation led by Vice Minister of Communist Party of Peoples Republic of China, Ai Ping on Wednesday.
Hamza Shahbaz pointed out energy, infrastructure, transport and other sectors where there is a vast scope of Chinese investment. He thanked Chinese government for the all out co-operation in resolving energy crisis and said that China has helped Pakistan in every hour of need. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is implementing apparel industrial city, solar park, coal power generation and other projects of economic development and there are vast opportunities of Chinese investment in these projects.
He said that in the wake of granting of GSP Plus status to Pakistan by European Union, Chinese government can help increase national production by imparting technical training to Pakistani workers. Chinese Vice Minister Ai Ping expressed surprise over the rapid progress made in all sectors in Punjab and commended the efforts of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his team.
Earlier, Provincial Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar welcomed Chinese Vice Minister Ai Ping and his delegation at the airport. The Chinese delegation was also given a briefing in Arfa Karim Tower on skills sector. Besides training being given by Punjab Vocational Training Council and other institutions to the youth in various sectors, scope of further training by Chinese government was also considered on the occasion. Chinese vice Minister was also given a detailed briefing on metro bus system they also visited the control room of metro bus set up at Arfa Karim Tower.
Chinese Vice Minister and his delegation also travelled by metro bus from Ittefaq Station to MAO College and termed this project of international standard a splendid gift of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif to the people of the province. Provincial Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Additional Chief Secretary Sohail Aamir, Commissioner Lahore, Secretaries forests, transport and industry departments and officers of concerned departments were also present.