Pakistan, China sign 19 agreements, MoUs on energy, infrastructure of 42 Billion

[Salman]

BEIJING: Pakistan and China on Saturday inked 19 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) mainly on projects relating to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and electricity generation to further boost bilateral ties.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.
Among the agreements signed bilaterally included Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between China and Pakistan, Framework Agreement on Provision of Concessional Loan by China to Pakistan, CPEC Energy Projects Cooperation, Government Concessional Loan Agreement on Construction of Cross-border Optical Fiber Cable System between China and Pakistan for International Connectivity of Voice/Data Traffic Project, and Framework Facility Agreement on Suki- Kinari Hydro Power Project between China EXIM Bank and Suki-Kinari Hydro Power Project.
Both sides also signed an MoU on the outline of the Long-Term Plan of CPEC, Capacity Building for Development of CPEC between NDRC of China and Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform of Pakistan, minutes of the 3rd JCC of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Surface Mine in Block-II of Thar Coal Field and the Engro Thar 2 x 330MW Coal Fired Power Plant.
The two countries also inked the Memorandum of Facilitation Agreement on Muzaffargarh 660MW Coal Fired Power Project between CMEC and Government of Punjab, Pakistan, MOA relating to development of 2 x 660 MW Coal Fired Power Project at Qadarabad, District Sahiwal, 99MW UEP Power Project EPC Framework Agreement, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Energy Park 900MW Solar Power Station Project between ZTE Energy and Government of Punjab, Implement Agreement on Dawood 50MW Wind Farm between Hydro China Corporation and AEDB Pakistan, EPC Agreement of 6.5 Mt/a Open Pit Mine in Thar Block I, Coal Supply Contract under the Project of Integrated Mine Mouth Coal Power Plant in Thar Block I and MoU for Development of Thermal Power Assets in Pakistan.
Pakistan and China also signed Framework Agreement on Ruyi- Masood Textile Industrial Park and 2 x 135MW Self-generation Coal- fired Power Plant between Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and Ruyi-Masood Textile Company of Pakistan and MoU on Coal Power Plant in Port Qasim.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi attended the meetings.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2014