BEIJING: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday arrived in Beijing on the second leg of his five-day visit to China to further consolidate time-tested friendship and economic cooperation.
The Prime Minister was received by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong at the airport. PM Shehbaz is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other members of the cabinet and senior officials.
PM Shehbaz has an extensive program in Beijing reflecting the depth and breadth of Pakistan-China relations. He will meet Chinese President XI Jinping, the Premier and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
The Prime Minister will also attend a Pakistan-China Friendship and Business event and have meetings with the Chief Executive Officers of leading Chinese companies working on CPEC projects. Several MoUs between the two countries on cooperation in different fields are likely to be signed.
Earlier today in Shenzhen, the Prime Minister visited the Huawei Technologies Corporation headquarters. During the visit, PM Shehbaz reiterated his commitment to advancing an innovative, inclusive and sustainable digital transformation for Pakistan.
Commending the latest innovative technologies, PM Shehbaz invited Huawei to expand its investment portfolio in Pakistan.
During the visit, it was also discussed how Huawei and Pakistan can collaborate to build a better, digital future together.
On his arrival at the headquarters, Huawei Chairman Liang Hua received the Prime Minister and his delegation. The Prime Minister also visited the Exhibition Centre of Huawei and commended the innovation of the company’s operations.
At the exhibition centre, he was briefed about different fields, especially, e-governance, digital banking, telecommunication and artificial intelligence.
The Prime Minister appreciated the safe-city projects in Pakistan, which were completed with Huawei’s cooperation.
Later the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with the chairman of Huawei Corporation.
PM Shehbaz Sharif apprised the chairman about the measures taken by the government of Pakistan to promote investment and ease of doing business. He encouraged the Huawei Corporation to establish safe-city projects on a priority basis in different Pakistani cities, especially where projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor are underway.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan is taking steps to digitize government offices on a priority basis. He said a big conglomerate like the Huawei Technologies Corporation has ample investment opportunities in Pakistan in various fields like tax system, e-governance, and artificial intelligence.
He invited Chairman Huawei Corporation to invest in modern technology in the agriculture sector of Pakistan. The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to Huawei Chairman to visit Pakistan.
Later, a framework agreement between the Ministry of Information Technology of the Government of Pakistan and Huawei was signed.
Under the framework agreement, Huawei will provide free training to 200,000 Pakistani youth in the field of Information Technology, including artificial intelligence.
Besides, Huawei will extend its cooperation in establishing safe cities in Pakistan, e-governance, and digitization of the economy.
The Chairman Huawei hosted a luncheon in honour of the Prime Minister and his delegation.
During my visit to @Huawei HQ in Shenzhen today, I was impressed by latest innovative technologies that are changing the world and the way we live. Discussed how Huawei and Pakistan can collaborate to build a better, digital future together.
Reiterated our commitment to… pic.twitter.com/dM3WlkuSqI— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 5, 2024
