Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday assured the Chinese investors to remove all red tape hiccups in investments procedures as Pakistan and China business firms signed massive $4.2 billion worth 21 memorandums of understandings in different areas.
\nThe prime minister unveiled a bold new vision for Pakistan-China economic cooperation, announcing the formal launch of \u201cCPEC 2.0\u201d during his keynote address at the Second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference held in Beijing.
\nWelcoming the high-level delegates, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the forum as a reflection of the iron-clad brotherhood between Pakistan and China.
\nAddressing concerns about bureaucratic delays, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a clear and direct message: \u201cWe will not tolerate a second\u2019s delay. I recently ensured that a Chinese entrepreneur was facilitated within 24 hours. That\u2019s the level of commitment I am talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reassured the Chinese delegation of Pakistan\u2019s unwavering commitment to investor facilitation, stating that Chinese investors will be treated as partners and that \u201cPakistan is your second home, just as China is ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Security of Chinese nationals in Pakistan, he said was a top priority, adding \u201cthe safety of Chinese citizens is paramount.\u201d
\n\u201cThis is one of the largest business conferences I have attended during my visit to this great country. Our relationship with China is unmatched, higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the deepest oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel,\u201d said the prime minister.
\nReferring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agreement signed in 2015 during President Xi Jinping\u2019s historic visit to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited the first phase of CPEC with transforming Pakistan\u2019s energy and infrastructure landscape.
\n\u201cWe were facing up to 20 hours of power outages daily. Today, thanks to President Xi\u2019s dynamic and visionary leadership, Pakistan became energy self-sufficient. That was the turning point,\u201d he noted.
\nPM Shehbaz Sharif announced the launch of CPEC 2.0, which will shift focus toward business-to-business (B2B) investments in agriculture, IT and AI, minerals, and industrial relocation.
\n \u201cOur agriculture sector employs 60% of our population. China has excelled in this field, and we seek your partnership to modernize our agricultural practices and increase exports,\u201d he urged Chinese investors.
\nHe emphasized the role of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in attracting investment, offering competitive advantages such as cheaper skilled labor and joint ventures to produce high-quality export goods.
\nIn an emotionally charged segment of his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz recounted his first visit to China in 1982.
\n\u201cEven back then, I said China is suffering from success, not failure. Today, China is the second-largest economy and a global military power, having lifted over 700 million people out of poverty. This is the model I want to borrow and replicate in Pakistan,\u201d he said.
\nHe commended President Xi Jinping\u2019s leadership in promoting multilateralism and shared prosperity, saying that China has changed the destinies of many nations, a testament to its \u201cvisionary and dynamic leadership.\u201d
\nIn his closing remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his determination to transform Pakistan\u2019s economic landscape. \u201cWe know the path is difficult, but not impossible. With China\u2019s support and our commitment, we will make Pakistan a strong and vibrant economy. Let today mark the beginning of that journey.\u201d
\nChinese and Pakistani investors, government officials, and dignitaries, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, the Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi, and Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, federal ministers and others were present on the occasion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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