FAISALABAD, Pakistan: The Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong has said that the Chinese President Xi Jinping, its government and people of China are proud of Pak-China friendship which is time tested and growing at a much faster pace with the passage of time.
In his address at a reception hosted in his honour by Sitara Group in Faisalabad on Saturday, the envoy said that during the visit of Xi Jinping, a number of agreements were inked which had catalyzed the economic cooperation between the two countries.
The ambassador said that the Chinese investment and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would open new avenues of progress and prosperity in the region.
Sun Weidong also mentioned the establishment on Chinese Consulate General office in Lahore and said that it would not only play its role in strengthening bilateral relations but also facilitate the business community of Punjab.
The Chinese ambassador said that the Consulate General will also initiate new programmes for the promotion of cultural and people to people contacts between the two countries.
The envoy expressed satisfaction that many Faisalabad based industrialists have launched joint ventures in collaboration with the Chinese entrepreneurs. He hoped that more joint ventures were in the pipeline and would soon become mature, paving way for the economic uplift of this region.
The ambassador lauded the best working relations between Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) and Chinese Embassy and said that on the recommendations of FCCI, visas were being issued to maximum businessmen who intended to visit China.
More steps were also being taken to facilitate the business community of Pakistan, he added.
On the occasion, Mian Javed Iqbal of Sitara Group said that China was the only country with which Pakistan enjoys cordial political as well as economic relations. He said that China had always stood with Pakistan and we really appreciate its support in overcoming the menace of load shedding.
Mian Javed Iqbal said that power plants installed with the help of China would also play a major role in expediting the pace of industrial growth.
The President FCCI Chaudhry Muhammad Nawaz also welcomed the Chinese aAmbassador and said that Pak-China friendship was deep rooted and had played a major role in bringing the two countries closer.
It is very encouraging that FCCI had also contributed its role in enhancing the economic cooperation between the business communities of the two countries, he said, adding that many local businessmen had initiated joint ventures in collaborating with Chinese partners while more projects were in the pipeline.
APP/DND
