Provincial-level cooperation can play a key role in advancing CPEC Phase II through export-led growth, says the Prime Minister
During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed in Zhejiang Province, and discussions were held with provincial leadership on enhancing cooperation at the provincial level, advancing China–Pakistan Economic Corridor Phase II, and collaboration in other sectors.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended a business forum in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, where Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee Party Secretary Wang Hao welcomed him.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister said that provincial-level cooperation is an important pillar of Pakistan-China relations and can play a key role in advancing CPEC Phase II through industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, technology transfer, and export-oriented growth.
The Prime Minister praised Zhejiang Province’s outstanding development planning and commended the visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping during his tenure as Party Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Committee. He particularly appreciated Xi Jinping’s concept that “clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets.”
Shehbaz Sharif stated that Zhejiang’s development serves as a practical example of how environmental protection, green development, and high-quality economic growth can progress together.
He said Pakistan attaches great importance to cooperation with Zhejiang Province, particularly in the fields of digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced industrialization, and skills development.
During the visit, the Prime Minister also attended ceremonies for the signing of two important cooperation documents. The first memorandum of understanding was related to establishing sister-province relations between Zhejiang Province and Punjab, aimed at promoting cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Prime Minister also attended the signing ceremony for a document related to the establishment of a China-Pakistan Joint Technology Research Center between Hangzhou Normal University and the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing. The center will promote academic cooperation, applied research, technology exchange, and institutional links between the two countries.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and China are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and entering a new era of people-centric, development-oriented, and practical cooperation.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Hangzhou during the first phase of his four-day visit to China. He was received at Xiaoshan Airport by Zhejiang Vice Governor Xu Wenguang, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Beijing Khalil Hashmi.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet heads of leading Chinese companies and visit the headquarters of Alibaba.
In the second phase of the visit, the Prime Minister will travel to Beijing, where meetings are scheduled with President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The meetings will review bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and strategic sectors.
According to the statement, special focus during the meetings with Chinese leadership will be placed on CPEC, trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people ties.
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