Under the 10 –year celebrations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Pakistan and China on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoUs) to enhance further bilateral cooperation and to promote strong economic ties between the two brotherly countries.
The MoUs were signed during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister Office after a meeting between Sharif and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan to mark 10 years of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the high-level Chinese delegation led by the Chinese Vice Premier, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, members of the federal cabinet and senior officials of the various ministries.
It is noted that since the government came into power in April 2022, the CPEC projects have been revived which remained neglected in the past. During the signing ceremony the minutes of the 11th Meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC were also signed. This document comprised the decisions and outcomes of the 11th meeting of the JCC on CPEC held on October 27 2022. It was signed by the Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China Mr. Cong Liang and federal Mistier for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal.
The other MoUs include Establishing an Expert Exchange Mechanism within the Framework of the CPEC. The MoU aimed to establish an expert exchange mechanism between the Ministry of Planning, Development of Special Initiatives, and NDRC of China, to facilitate knowledge sharing between the two governments. The objective was to obtain intellectual support and consultation for China-Pakistan capacity-building cooperation and conduct in-depth exchanges of Chinese experts with the Pakistani government and enterprises by sharing China's experience, contributing Chinese solutions and helping Pakistan meet international standards more timely and efficiently. This MoU was also signed by Mr. Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of the NDRC, and Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives.
The MoU on Protocol of phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Dried Chilies from Pakistan to China was also signed. The protocol outlined the phytosanitary requirements for the export of dried chilies from Pakistan to China. The signatories for this protocol were Ms. Pang Chunxue, Chargé d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, on behalf of the General Administration of Customs of China and Mr. Zafar Hasan, Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security & Research of Pakistan.
Similarly, the MoU on the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Realignment of KKH Phase-II (Thakot-Raikot) Project Feasibility Study Final Report was also signed. This document acknowledged the receipt of the final report on the feasibility study for the realignment of the KKH Phase-II (Thakot-Raikot) Project. The document was signed by Ms. Pang Chunxue, Chargé d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport of China, and Mr Asim Ameen, Member Planning, National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications of Pakistan.
The MoU on “Strengthening Workers’ Exchange Programme was signed between the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and the Board of Investment, Pakistan under the ambit of CPEC Industrial Cooperation to foster exchange programmers of the workforce associated with CPEC projects for skill development, technical training, language courses, and Chinese experience sharing in SEZs development by providing a platform to augment meaningful people-to-people exchanges. The MoU was instrumental in strengthening the Pak-China Industrial Cooperation and the development of SEZs through Chinese intellectual support. It further enhanced the competitiveness of CPEC’s workforce to meet the local industrial requirements and also supported the requirements of skilled labor to attract Chinese industrial relocation envisaged through CPEC Industrial Cooperation.
Furthermore, agreement on the Announcement of the Minutes of the 21st Conference of Technical Committees on Promoting the (ML-1) Project was also signed. The ML1 project, a crucial element of the CPEC, held the promise of transforming Pakistan's transportation system. Both Pakistan and China had made noteworthy strides in preliminary technical work. In a recent agreement, both sides resolved to push forward the strategic ML1 initiative. By focusing on cost-efficiency, justified capital outlays, and maximized economic returns, the ML1 project would unfold in a systematic, phased approach.
The MoUs were signed during a ceremony held at the Prime Minister Office after a meeting between Sharif and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan to mark 10 years of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the high-level Chinese delegation led by the Chinese Vice Premier, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, members of the federal cabinet and senior officials of the various ministries.
It is noted that since the government came into power in April 2022, the CPEC projects have been revived which remained neglected in the past. During the signing ceremony the minutes of the 11th Meeting of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC were also signed. This document comprised the decisions and outcomes of the 11th meeting of the JCC on CPEC held on October 27 2022. It was signed by the Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China Mr. Cong Liang and federal Mistier for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal.
The other MoUs include Establishing an Expert Exchange Mechanism within the Framework of the CPEC. The MoU aimed to establish an expert exchange mechanism between the Ministry of Planning, Development of Special Initiatives, and NDRC of China, to facilitate knowledge sharing between the two governments. The objective was to obtain intellectual support and consultation for China-Pakistan capacity-building cooperation and conduct in-depth exchanges of Chinese experts with the Pakistani government and enterprises by sharing China's experience, contributing Chinese solutions and helping Pakistan meet international standards more timely and efficiently. This MoU was also signed by Mr. Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of the NDRC, and Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives.
The MoU on Protocol of phytosanitary Requirements for Export of Dried Chilies from Pakistan to China was also signed. The protocol outlined the phytosanitary requirements for the export of dried chilies from Pakistan to China. The signatories for this protocol were Ms. Pang Chunxue, Chargé d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, on behalf of the General Administration of Customs of China and Mr. Zafar Hasan, Secretary, Ministry of National Food Security & Research of Pakistan.
Similarly, the MoU on the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Realignment of KKH Phase-II (Thakot-Raikot) Project Feasibility Study Final Report was also signed. This document acknowledged the receipt of the final report on the feasibility study for the realignment of the KKH Phase-II (Thakot-Raikot) Project. The document was signed by Ms. Pang Chunxue, Chargé d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport of China, and Mr Asim Ameen, Member Planning, National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications of Pakistan.
The MoU on “Strengthening Workers’ Exchange Programme was signed between the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and the Board of Investment, Pakistan under the ambit of CPEC Industrial Cooperation to foster exchange programmers of the workforce associated with CPEC projects for skill development, technical training, language courses, and Chinese experience sharing in SEZs development by providing a platform to augment meaningful people-to-people exchanges. The MoU was instrumental in strengthening the Pak-China Industrial Cooperation and the development of SEZs through Chinese intellectual support. It further enhanced the competitiveness of CPEC’s workforce to meet the local industrial requirements and also supported the requirements of skilled labor to attract Chinese industrial relocation envisaged through CPEC Industrial Cooperation.
Furthermore, agreement on the Announcement of the Minutes of the 21st Conference of Technical Committees on Promoting the (ML-1) Project was also signed. The ML1 project, a crucial element of the CPEC, held the promise of transforming Pakistan's transportation system. Both Pakistan and China had made noteworthy strides in preliminary technical work. In a recent agreement, both sides resolved to push forward the strategic ML1 initiative. By focusing on cost-efficiency, justified capital outlays, and maximized economic returns, the ML1 project would unfold in a systematic, phased approach.