LAHORE: A Chinese delegation headed by Chengdu Mayor Tang Lianghzi called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed matters related to the energy sector.

Shahbaz said the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan would be very important.

“Agreements on investment of billions of dollars will be signed, including a $20 billion project in the energy sector,” he said.

The chief minister said these agreements were historic vis-à-vis Pakistan-China friendship. Owing to the visit of the Chinese president, economic and trade cooperation would further be strengthened between the two countries.

“We consider Chinese investment as cooperation and assistance for the development of various sectors and it will help rid us of the energy crisis,” he said.

Shahbaz said China was extending great economic cooperation to Pakistan and that the government was making serious efforts for resolving the energy crisis and a number of projects with Chinese cooperation would start producing electricity by 2017.

He further said an agreement for declaring Lahore and the Chinese city of Chengdu ‘twin city’ would be signed during the Chinese president’s visit. He said due to this agreement, cooperation in tourism, trade, economy and other sectors would be promoted between the two cities.

Tang Lianghzi said China and Pakistan were tied with relations of brotherhood and everlasting friendship. He said mutual cooperation would further strengthen with the agreement of declaring Chengdu and Lahore ‘twin city’. He said he had come to Pakistan for the first time and was highly impressed with the beauty and development of Lahore.

Chinese Consul General in Lahore Yu Boren was also present in the meeting.

CONDOLENCE: Shahbaz Sharif condemned the alleged murder of Masood Hamid, the marketing director of Dawn Group and Pakistan Herald Publications Limited, in Karachi.

He expressed sorrow and grief over the murder and expressed condolences with the bereaved family.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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