BEIJING: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called on Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in the Chinese capital and discussed issues of mutual understanding to further strengthen the bilateral ties.
On the first day of PM Sharif’s visit, 19 agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were also signed between the two countries in different fields, including energy and basic infrastructure sectors.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal, and Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present there, while the Chinese premier was assisted by Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission and other officials.
The agreements signed between the two countries include solar power production at Quaid-e Azam Solar Park, easy loan for laying optic fibre between the two countries, mining of 65,00,000 metric tons of coal in Thar Block-2, 870 MW Sukhi Kinari hydropower project, 1320 MW Sahiwal power project and MoU for 100 MW Jhimpir wind power project. An agreement was also signed to establish an Industrial Park in Faisalabad.
Nawaz Sharif, while talking to media after meeting, said that his visit to China will help resolve energy crisis in the country, adding that his government is committed to addressing the energy shortage permanently.