Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to fostering a long-term partnership with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He expressed these views while talking to President of AIIB, Zou Jiayi, who called on him in Islamabad along with her delegation.
According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister welcomed the incumbent AIIB President on her first visit to Pakistan, emphasizing that Pakistan deeply values its partnership with the Bank as one of its founding members. He also appreciated AIIB's continued support for Pakistan's socio-economic development agenda.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government's priorities for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. He identified key areas for future collaboration with AIIB, including railways, agriculture and agro-based industry, regional connectivity, renewable and indigenous energy resources, as well as youth participation in IT and artificial intelligence.
Shehbaz Sharif also underscored ongoing policy reforms aimed at economic stability and long-term development, and the steps being taken to foster an investment-friendly environment. He said that partnerships with leading multilateral financial institutions such as AIIB are vital for achieving these objectives.
In her remarks, the President of AIIB stated that the Bank is keen to deepen collaboration with Pakistan in various sectors. She also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and acknowledged his strong commitment to the progress and prosperity of Pakistan.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to further expanding cooperation and working closely to promote sustainable development, regional integration, and economic growth.