Chinese President Xi Jinping has reassured caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar of supporting Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development.
“President Xi reassured that China would continue supporting us [Pakistan] in harnessing our geo-economic potential and as a hub of regional trade and economics, which is our shared vision,” Kakar said in a post on X, erstwhile Twitter, on Thursday.
The caretaker prime minister is in China where he attended the third Belt and Road Forum and met some world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also had meetings with Chinese investors where he sought investments in the country’s solar parks.
Kakar, who is on a four-day visit to China, described his meeting with Xi as a “privilege” at the Great Hall of People in Beijing.
The two dignitaries discussed various dimensions of the multi-faceted Pakistan-China relationship and reaffirmed their “longstanding and steadfast friendship, all-weather strategic” cooperation, economic and trade ties, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The caretaker prime minister congratulated him on the success of the third Belt and Road Forum and the 10th anniversary of BRI.
“I underscored that Pakistan would continue working with China to promote regional connectivity and economic development and to make Gwadar a connectivity hub and for the socio-economic development of Pakistan.”
Kakar also extended an invitation to President Xi to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, which he “graciously” accepted.
Earlier in the day, the caretaker PM met with a number of Chinese corporate executives on the sidelines.
According to the Press Information Department, the CEOs and executives of Chinese enterprises who called on the Prime MM included Minmetals, MCC, China Communication Construction Company (CCCC), China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), COFCO, Amer International Group, Power China, China Energy, and China Gezhouba Group.
The interim PM apprised the Chinese businessmen of Pakistan’s initiatives for economic and financial stability.
Sharing Pakistan’s vision for sustainable and inclusive development, he outlined Pakistan’s “investor-friendly policies; including the establishment of Special Investment Facilitation Council, which will act as a one-window platform to facilitate foreign investment.”
He encouraged China’s corporate executives to explore the vast investment potential of Pakistan, especially in ICT, agriculture, renewable energy, textile, digital economy, and, mining and minerals sectors.
The entrepreneurs appreciated the measures taken by Pakistan to attract foreign investment and briefed the PM on their business portfolios in Pakistan. They also expressed their “keen interest” in working with Pakistani partners to expand their business footprint in Pakistan.
Kakar also invited the executives of Chinese companies to Pakistan to discuss their business interests with relevant ministers.
Moreover, Luo Zhaohui, the chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), called on interim PM Kakar in Beijing.
The PM lauded the vision of connectivity and partnership behind CPEC and the fruits it has borne over the last 10 years in terms of economic milestones for Pakistan. He termed CPEC as a “landmark project” in the development history of Pakistan-China relations, which would bring economic progress and prosperity to Pakistan and contribute to regional connectivity and development.
Kakar and Chairman Luo discussed collaboration in socioeconomic development projects under the CPEC framework in agriculture, health, education, vocational education, water supply, and poverty alleviation.
The CIDCA chairman welcomed the PM’s proposal for the swift implementation of CIDCA’s GDI projects in Pakistan. Kakar appreciated the dynamic partnership between Pakistan and the CIDCA and especially commended the CIDCA’s strong commitment to development projects in Pakistan. Chairman Luo assured the PM of CIDCA’s long-term commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC.
