ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of China Yao Jing called on Planning, Development & Reform Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar on Thursday to discuss the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China.
The two dignitaries expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the friendly ties between the two strategic partners.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Mohammad Jehanzeb Khan and Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan were also present in the meeting.
The planning minister said that the upcoming visit would further bolster bilateral trade and economic ties between the two neighbours. He stated that during the visit, expansion of the CPEC framework, including cooperation in agriculture, industrial and socio-economic sectors, would be discussed.
“China is a close and strategic partner of Pakistan and bilateral partnership between the two countries will continue to set new benchmarks in future. It is in this backdrop that Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting China,” the minister maintained.
He stated that CPEC offers enormous potential to boost national economy and reduce poverty. The pace of CPEC projects has accelerated ever since the incumbent government came into power, he added.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing appreciated the planning minister for gearing up the momentum on CPEC portfolio. He expressed satisfaction on the pace of CPEC projects and said that ongoing phase of CPEC would bring about socio-economic benefits for the people of Pakistan.
During the meeting, various CPEC projects, including the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Karachi-Peshawar Main-Line 1 and upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting, which would be held in Islamabad in November, were also discussed.
