Islamabad, Pakistan has called on top Chinese companies to invest in thirteen identified priority sectors to boost the export-oriented industry, signaling a new phase in economic cooperation between the two nations.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, this appeal was part of a Joint Statement released at the conclusion of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to China. The statement highlighted the agreement on both sides to deepen industrial cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). They also signed an Action Plan for the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation under CPEC.

The two countries also agreed to further the second phase of CPEC, emphasizing the importance of projects like the upgrade of the Main Line 1 (ML-1) railway and the realignment of the Karakoram Highway. Furthermore, the ongoing construction of the New Gwadar International Airport and other infrastructure developments at Gwadar Port were discussed with satisfaction.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture modernization, digital technology, and energy, as well as continuing to support each other in regional and international issues, maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, and actively contributing to the resolution of global crises like the situation in Gaza.