Iqbal pins hopes on PM’s Beijing visit for better bilateral cooperation

Published June 27, 2013
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal. – File Photo
Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Thursday said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's upcoming visit to China has great significance and both countries would sign several MoUs to increase cooperation in various fields.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Parliament House, he said this would be the first foreign trip of the prime minister since formation of the new government.

Earlier this week, an advance team led by the planning and development minister visited Beijing to discuss details of the prime minister’s scheduled visit of July 4.

Sharif was invited by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang when he visited Islamabad last month.

Iqbal told reporters the prime minister will reciprocate ways to further improve relations of the two countries as was done by the Chinese premier during his visit to Islamabad.

The minister said presently China is working on various energy projects in Pakistan while during the upcoming visit, PM Sharif would further urge the Chinese investors to invest in power sector of the country.

He recalled that JF-17 Thunder, and Chashma power plant agreements were singed during the past tenures of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government.

To a question, he said doubts are being created on Article 6 of the Constitution and that the Parliament had endorsed October 12 action of former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf while his November 3 emergency was not approved by the Parliament.

The minister said the government would implement the directives of the Supreme Court in the high treason case against Musharraf. The government would deal with the case as per the Constitution and law of the land, he added.

To another question, the PML-N leader said it was never agreed in Charter of Democracy (CoD) that cases would not be opened against each other– APP/Dawn.com

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