Mr. Masood Khalid, Ambassador of Pakistan to China paid an official visit to Weihei and Jinan, two cities in Shandong Province of China from 02-04 April 2019. The visit was organized by H.E. Vladimir A. Norov, Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization for the Ambassadors of SCO member countries. 

 

As part of the programme, on-site visits were arranged to Shandong Weigao Group company and Weihei Vocational College. Meetings were also arranged with the city administrations of Weihei and Jinan as well as with the administration of Shandong Province. 

 

Pakistan has sister-province relationship between Punjab and Shandong Provinces as well as sister-city relationship of Yantai and Jining with Lahore city. Vice Governor of Shandong Province Mr. Xia Geng visited Pakistan in 2016. In 2018, former President of Pakistan visited Qingdao, Shandong Province to attend the SCO Heads of State Summit. 

 

Shandong is an economic power house of China with the GDP of over 7.6 trillion Yuan. It has an advance industrial base, well developed land, air and maritime transport network, good marine-based technology and attractive cultural and tourism potential. Shandong based companies such as Shandong Huaneng Group, Shandong Rui, Inspur, SinoTruk and Haeir are participating in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor projects. A Shandong based port operations company Rizhao is also part of CPEC Port Qasim Power Project.

 

Ambassador Masood Khalid highlighted that in the 2nd Phase of CPEC which will start with the visit of Prime Minister of Pakistan to attend 2nd BRF in Beijing, we will be focusing on expanding cooperation in agriculture, food processing, livelihood projects, water purification and treatment, vocational training and tourism especially religious tourism. He invited Chinese companies to invest in special economic zones under CPEC while explaining the incentives offered by the government to the foreign companies. He also hoped that more sister city relationships between Shandong Province and Pakistani cities will be established during this year which is being celebrated as the Year of Sister City exchanges by both governments.