Hangzhou, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Mr. Wang Hao, Party Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee, in Hangzhou on Saturday, where both sides reaffirmed commitment to deepening Pakistan-China provincial-level cooperation.
Welcoming the Prime Minister, Mr. Wang Hao highlighted Zhejiang Province’s development achievements and emphasized its model of innovation-driven and green growth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the visionary leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping during his tenure as Party Secretary of CPC Zhejiang, particularly the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” describing it as a successful example of balancing ecological protection with high-quality economic development.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan attached great importance to expanding cooperation with Zhejiang Province in key sectors including the digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and skills development. He noted that provincial collaboration is a vital pillar of Pakistan-China relations and can significantly contribute to the advancement of CPEC Phase II through industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, technological exchange, and export-oriented growth.
During the visit, the Prime Minister witnessed the signing of two important cooperation documents. The first was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang Province and Punjab Province, aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The second agreement was a Document of Understanding between Hangzhou Normal University and the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing for the establishment of a China-Pakistan Joint Technology Research Centre at the university. The centre will promote academic collaboration, applied research, technology transfer, and institutional linkages between the two countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that as Pakistan and China mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two countries are entering a new phase of practical, people-centric, and development-oriented cooperation.
