Pakistan, Chi ink 51 accords, MoUs in diverse sectors

Islamabad, April 20: Pakistan and Chi on Monday signed 51 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in diverse fields. Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister waz Sharif witnessed the signing of agreements in Islamabad. The two leaders also unveiled plaques of eight projects to be undertaken in Pakistan with Chinese assistance.

Sharif and Xi performed ground-breaking of five projects through video link. The projects and agreements relate to Chi-Pakistan Economic Corridor, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, research and technology, education and other fields.

The prime minister said the agreements and MoUs signed by the two countries have sound fincial and technical backing. He reaffirmed that friendship with Chi is corner stone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.

He said there are strong public sentiments driving our relations, which provide a sound basis for their strength.

Sharif said the most prominent hallmark of Pakistan-Chi relationship was consistency and resilience, irrespective of political developments, changes in the two countries and major regiol and intertiol developments.

Pakistan-Chi ties have remained robust. Relations between the two are based on shared ideals and principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit and respect, he said. In his remarks, President Xi said the main objective of his visit is to further cement and give new boost to the strategic partnership and friendly ties with Pakistan. He assured Sharif that Chi would continue playing its part for sustaible socio-economic development of Pakistan with particular focus on development in Balochistan province. The Chinese president said special attention would be paid to further strengthen economic strategic partnership with Pakistan in next 10 years. (IANS)