BEIJING: Pakistan and China have signed 15 agreements and memorandum of understandings (MoUs) for cooperation in diverse fields.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Chinese counterpart Premier Li Keqiang, according to official reports.
Agreements regarding poverty alleviation in Pakistan and strengthening of cooperation in agriculture, industrial sectors and technical training were also signed by the two sides. One document was related to strategic level talks between the foreign ministers of two countries.
The two countries signed an MoU for cooperation in forestry, earth sciences and transfer of electronics.
One agreement was signed between Higher Education of Pakistan and Science Academy of China while another was signed between the Chinese Academy of Science and Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Talks were underway between PM Khan and President Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Both the sides were discussing the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international matters of mutual interests.
On arrival at the Great Hall of the People, the Chinese Premier accorded a warm welcome to Prime Minister Imran Khan. On the occasion, an official welcome ceremony was held in honour of the prime minister. Anthems of both the countries were played. Guard of honour was presented to the visiting prime minister.
Earlier, the prime minister also laid a wreath at the Monument of the People’s Square.
It is pertinent to mention that PM Imran Khan, in an earlier meeting with the Chinese premier, had said his party has only been in power for two months and faces an adverse economic situation.
“Countries go in cycles. They have their high points, they have their low points. Unfortunately, our country is going through a low point at the moment with two very big deficits, a fiscal deficit and a current account deficit. And so we, as I’ve said, have come to learn,” he had said.
The PM described Xi as a role model owing to his vision and leadership. “Our country is very impressed with the way China has progressed. China’s phenomenal achievements are worth emulating. No other country has tackled poverty and corruption the way China has tackled it,” he said. “Pakistan wants to learn from China’s experience in poverty alleviation and curbing corruption.”
President Xi told PM Khan that he valued both countries’ relations, and reaffirmed their “all-weather” friendship.
“I attach great importance to China-Pakistan relations and am willing to work together with the prime minister to strengthen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership and build a new era of China-Pakistan destiny,” Xi said.
