ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to offer free visas to Chinese citizens starting August 14, showing Islamabad’s commitment to Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday.
Addressing the delegation, the premier said that during his recent visit to China, he had asked President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to send experts to Pakistan.
“The aim is to model Pakistan’s economy after China’s. These experts are here today and we are confident that progress will follow soon.”
He welcomed the delegation by stressing that China and Pakistan are eternal friends, with a friendship that knows no borders, stressing that industrial cooperation is crucial at this time, and expressed the hope that it could be extended to Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said he believed joint ventures and collaborations would create a win-win situation. He said that the visit of the delegation was very reassuring and expressed hope that it would be useful and productive for Pakistan.
He added that Pakistan could meet China’s demands by exporting high-quality goods and exploring opportunities in mining and minerals, IT and export zones.
“Sino-Pak relations are higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans,” the prime minister said.
Pakistan views its relationship with China as vital to its national interests. Despite calls from some Western countries to reassess the alliance, Islamabad remains firmly focused on maintaining strong ties with Beijing.
China has proved to be a reliable ally of Pakistan at crucial times. Beijing’s rapid expansion of loans last year helped Pakistan avert a potential default.
In addition, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has consistently supported Pakistan’s core interests in international forums.
