BEIJING, Sept 20: China will enhance its collaboration with Pakistan in development of textile, hydropower, automobile, petroleum and construction sectors, said Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool here on Tuesday.

He said he had received very positive indications from Chinese business circles for bringing more investment in Pakistan. Referring to his meetings held last week with the Chinese cities’ leaders and entrepreneurs in Shanghai, Wuxi and Suzhou, he said they showed willingness to undertake more joint ventures in Pakistan.

In an interview with APP in Beijing, he said Chinese traders and businessmen considered their investment more secured and profitable in Pakistan, particularly after recent reforms introduced by the government.

He underlined the need for intensive interaction among the businessmen of the two countries to explore new avenues of bilateral cooperation. He said China’s fast economic growth could be helpful for Pakistan in achieving its future economic targets.

During the visit, Khalid Maqbool said he also held very useful meetings with the senior officials of China’s Institute of International Strategic Studies (CIISS) and the Shanghai Institute of Strategic Studies.

Reiterating their support to Pakistan in the international affairs, the two Chinese prestigious think-tanks expressed the hope that the two friendly countries would continue to work closely at regional and international levels for peace and development. They called for sustainability of their strategic partnership, through people-to-people contacts, especially among the youth and businessmen.

To a question, the governor underlined the need for giving more attention to developing all-round economic partnership, so that it was gradually brought to the level of their existing exemplary relationship in diplomatic and defence fields.

It was agreed that Punjab and Jiangsu, being sister-provinces, will strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation for their common economic uplift, he added.

The Jiangsu Province would soon send a business delegation to Pakistan to explore opportunities of bilateral cooperation in manufacturing sector.—APP