BEIJING: Pakistan and China on Saturday signed 19 agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to further boost the bilateral ties between the two countries in various fields, including energy and basic infrastructure sectors.

A meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang was held in Beijing. Both the leaders discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Ahsan Iqbal, and Special Assistant to the PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present on the occasion.

The Chinese premier was assisted by Vice Chairman of National Development and Reforms Commission and other officials.

The agreements signed between the two countries include solar power production at Quaid-e Azam Solar Park, easy loan for laying optic fibre between the two countries, mining of 65,00,000 metric tons of coal in Thar Block-2, 870 MW Sukhi Kinari hydropower project, 1320 MW Sahiwal power project and MoU for 100 MW Jhimpir wind power project.

An agreement was also signed to establish an Industrial Park in Faisalabad.

The two countries also inked an agreement for economic and technical cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking to media representatives after the meeting, PM Nawaz Sharif expressed the confidence that his visit to China will help resolve energy crisis in the country, adding that his government is committed to addressing the energy shortage permanently.

He said that a solution to the energy problem will bring progress and prosperity to the country. Nawaz Sharif said the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor Project will prove a game changer in the region and expressed the hope that the projects will infuse a spirit in the slow pace of development projects, caused by the sit-ins.

Also read: FTAs hurting Pakistan’s trade balance