- Chinese official says both countries can jointly formulate strategies to oversee speedy and timely execution of projects
SUZHOU: China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Chairman Lian Weiliang on Friday told Pakistan’s Energy Minister Omar Ayub that China would continue to complement Pakistan’s efforts in reforming and expanding its energy sector.
“Pakistan has great potential to grow and its energy market will witness major expansion in the coming years and China will continue to complement Pakistan’s efforts in reforming and expanding its energy sector,” the NDRC VC told Omar Ayub who met him in China’s Suzhou city.
During the meeting, Lian, a minister-level official of China, recognizing the imperatives of further reinforcing ties between two iron brothers, maintained that both countries could regularly review the progress of various energy projects and jointly formulate strategies and plans to oversee their speedy and timely execution.
He particularly stressed that the Chinese leadership at the highest level remained committed to further invest in Pakistan’s energy sector for its consolidation and self-sufficiency.
Omar Ayub thanked Lian for inviting Pakistan’s delegation to attend the Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference, which was recently held in Suzhou, and hoped that the conference under China’s visionary leadership would play a critical role in rebuilding and diversifying regional energy landscape.
The federal minister for energy also took the opportunity to brief his interlocutor about the energy priorities of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.
He underlined, “Just the up-gradation of Pakistan’s distribution system required an investment worth over $5billion, while up-gradation of the transmission system would require an even bigger investment.”
He said that Pakistan’s GDP is more than $300 billion and demand for more electricity consumption was rapidly growing, opening up more opportunities for foreign direct investment in the country.
Omar Ayub also extended Lian Weiliang the invitation to visit Pakistan. Lian thanked the minister for extending the invitation and hoped that under his leadership Pakistan-China energy ties would further deepen and solidify.
