ISLAMABAD: In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, Pakistan and China have inked several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during Chinse Vice Premier’s visit to Islamabad to boost bilateral cooperation and expand economic partnership between the two countries.
The signing ceremony, which took place at the Prime Minister’s Office, followed a meeting between Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The high-level Chinese delegation, along with federal cabinet members and senior officials from various ministries, witnessed the signing event. The Chinese Vice-Premier is on a three-day official visit to Islamabad to celebrate the completion of the 10 years of the CPEC.
The minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC were also signed in the high-level ceremony. This document outlined the decisions and outcomes of the eleventh Joint Cooperation Committee meeting held on October 27 last. It was signed by Mr. Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, and Ahsan Iqbal, the Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives of Pakistan.
Expert Exchange Mechanism MoU between Pakistan and China
Among the other MoUs, one aimed to establish an Expert Exchange Mechanism within the Framework of the CPEC. The purpose of this MoU was to facilitate knowledge sharing between the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives of Pakistan and the NDRC of China. The objective was to gain intellectual support and consultation for China-Pakistan capacity-building cooperation, conducting in-depth exchanges of Chinese experts with the Pakistani government and enterprises, and helping Pakistan meet international standards more effectively. This MoU was signed by Mr. Cong Liang and Ahsan Iqbal.
Both sides also signed an MoU on the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Exporting Dried Chilies from Pakistan to China. The protocol outlined the phytosanitary requirements for exporting dried chilies from Pakistan to China and was signed by representatives from the General Administration of Customs of China and the Pakistan National Food Ministry.
Furthermore, an MoU of the Realignment of the KKH Phase-II (Thakot-Raikot) Project was signed. Representatives from the Ministry of Transport of China and the National Highway Authority, Ministry of Communications of Pakistan, signed the document.
Furthermore, a significant MoU was signed between the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and the Board of Investment, Pakistan, under the ambit of CPEC Industrial Cooperation. This MoU aimed to foster workforce exchange programs associated with CPEC projects for skill development, technical training, language courses, and sharing Chinese experience in SEZs development. It further strengthened the Pak-China Industrial Cooperation and the development of SEZs through Chinese intellectual support.
Lastly, an agreement on the Announcement of the Minutes of the 21st Conference of Technical Committees on Promoting the (ML-1) Project was also signed. The ML-1 project is an important project of the CPEC to transform the Pakistan Railway’s transportation system. Both countries have made significant strides in preliminary technical work, and the agreement signals their commitment to prompt work on this strategic initiative.
