Those responsible for attacking Chinese nationals will be brought to justice, says PM

Premier says CPEC deepened relations and economic linkages

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday vowed to bring those responsible for attacking Chinese nationals to justice.

During a meeting with Communist Party of China Foreign Affairs Commission Director Yang Jiechi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Chinese nationals that took place in Karachi. He ensured the safety of Chinese nationals, and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

Regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said that the relations between Pakistan and China had deepened and economic linkages had been increased because of the project. He assured to accelerate the pace and completion of CPEC projects as early as possible.

The premier said that Pakistan would continue to cooperate with China for the mutual interests and shared vision of connectivity, prosperity, and public well-being.

He assured Chinese investors that Pakistan would continue to support Chinese investors with competitive incentives, access to high-quality infrastructure and unwavering security arrangements.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on the director of Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, Yang Jiechi, who was being accompanied by vice ministers for Foreign Affairs and Commerce, vice chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and deputy secretary general of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Prime minister particularly thanked China for the renewal of the RMB 15 billion (US $2.3 billion) syndicate facility.

Moreover, a total of 200,000 MT of urea fertilizer is also expected to arrive in Pakistan from China as well.

The prime minister also thanked China for its support and assistance to Pakistan during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing millions of vaccines and medical equipment along with the safe evacuation of Pakistani students in China. He also thanked China for key projects including Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Babusar Tunnel, and the desalinization plant in Karachi.

Director Yang Jiechi also responded with the same sentiments and expressed that Pakistan would make social and economic strides under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Premier also talked about Indian brutality in occupied Kashmir and thanked China for its stance on the issue. The humanitarian and economic crises in Afghanistan were also discussed in the meeting.

A memorandum of understanding on terms of reference/scope of works of G2G joint technical working group for realignment of Karakoram Highway from Thakot to Raikot, protocol on the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements for Rhodes grass exported from Pakistan to China, protocol on quarantine and health requirements for buffalo embryos to be exported from Pakistan to China and acceptance letter of 3000 sets of solar home systems were concluded in the meeting.