ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Monday urged for further
enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation between Pakistan
and China in various fields, here on Monday.
During his meeting
with a Chinese delegation comprising of Sou Lang Duo Ji, a prominent
Chinese businessman and the founder of the Hong Kong listed company,
China Lumena New Materials Corp, Mr. Nasir Ali Shah Bokhari, KASB Bank
Executive Vice-President Mr. Arif Ali Shah Bokhari, Mr. Tang Meng Sheng
and Hunaid Lakhani. at Aiwan-e-Sadr today, the President expressed that
there existed a tremendous potential of cooperation and joint ventures
between the two countries in a variety of fields.
Sou Lang Duo
Ji, who is also the owner of Laos Construction Bank, briefed the
President about the various projects being undertaken by his company
and the investment made in Pakistan in energy, mining and banking and
finance sector in Pakistan.
He also apprised that an investment
of $40 million has already been made in KASB Finance, a holding company
of KASB Bank and promised more investment in various sectors of the
economy. Briefing the media, Spokesperson to the President Mr.
Farhatullah Babar said that the China Lumena Company with its capital
over US $ 4 billion is one of the largest producers of special
industrial chemicals. He also briefed the meeting about his existing
engagement in Pakistan including a new 164 MW power project investment
of Grange power in Punjab, iron Ore Mining and beneficiation for
100,000tons per month.
The spokesperson said that the President
appreciated the company’s interest in setting up of a new industrial
zone in Zulfikarabad and said that it would further boost investors’
confidence for investment in Pakistan besides generating employment for
the people of the area. He also said that Pakistan highly values
Chinese assistance to the country in overcoming economic difficulties
and development. He said that Pak-China friendship has now been
transformed into a mutually beneficial economic equation which would
not only jack up bilateral cooperation between the two countries but
would also help to take advantage of economic expertise and tremendous
progress made by China.
He said that the Government was
committed to provide all possible assistance and facilitation to the
Chinese companies involved with various projects in the country. From
Pak side, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Federal Minister for Finance,
Revenue & Economic Affairs, Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary
General to the President, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah
Babar and other senior officials were also present in the meeting. The
delegation thanked the President for meeting and facilitation to the
Chinese investors involved in various projects in Pakistan. Online
