ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Zhao Yide, Party Secretary of Shaanxi Province, in Xi’an, China on Saturday and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade, technology, agriculture, and cultural exchanges.
Islamabad and Beijing reaffirmed commitment to deepening Pakistan-China strategic cooperation, emphasizing the promotion of B2B linkages and cultural exchanges. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperative partnerships at local and provincial levels between Pakistan and China for mutual prosperity.
Highlighting Xi’an’s historical significance as a center for cultural and economic exchanges along the Ancient Silk Road, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of continued collaboration between Pakistan and Shaanxi Province in areas such as culture, tourism, and education. He also emphasized the need to leverage sister-city relationships between Xi’an and Lahore and Multan through practical city-to-city cooperation.
Prime Minister said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is progressing robustly, focusing on high-quality development in its second phase.
Both sides agreed to enhance economic cooperation through joint ventures in sectors like agriculture, bio-pharmaceuticals, automobile manufacturing, mining, chemicals, and textiles.
Secretary Zhao provided an overview of Shaanxi Province’s historical significance and its status as one of China’s fastest-growing regions. The Prime Minister praised China’s remarkable development and support for developing countries, describing it as an inspiration for Pakistan. He invited state-owned and private enterprises from Shaanxi Province to take advantage of Pakistan’s investor-friendly policies and regulatory measures.
