ISLAMABAD: The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China will further strengthen friendship and bilateral relations between the two countries, said Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdum Khusro Bakhtiar
The federal minister was speaking to Ambassador of China Mr Yao Jing who called on him to discuss the upcoming visit. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan, Secretary Planning Zafar Hasan, and senior officials of the ministry were also present in the meeting.
The two dignitaries expressed confidence that the visit will further strengthen friendship between the two strategic partners. The planning minister said that the upcoming visit will further bolster bilateral trade and economic ties between the two friendly neighbours.
He stated that during the visit expansion of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework including cooperation in agriculture, industrial and socio-economic sectors will be discussed.
Bakhtiar said that China is a close and strategic partner of Pakistan and bilateral partnership between the two countries will continue to touch new heights in future. It is in this backdrop that Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting China to further promote bilateral trade and commerce exchange, he added.
The minister stated that CPEC offers enormous potential to boost national economy and reduce poverty. The pace of CPEC projects has accelerated after the incumbent government came into power, he said.
The Chinese envoy appreciated the minister for gearing up the momentum on CPEC portfolio. He expressed satisfaction on the pace of CPEC projects and said that the ongoing phase of CPEC will bring about socio-economic benefits for the welfare of the people of Pakistan.
During the meeting, various CPEC projects including development over Special Economic Zones (SEZs), ML-I, holding of the next Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting which would be held in Islamabad in November came under discussion.
