Chinese, Pakistani cities to deepen pragmatic cooperation

Loudi of Hunan Province and Gujrat of Punjab, Pakistan, signed a sister-city memorandum of understanding (MoU) marking a new phase of institutionalized and pragmatic cooperation between the two cities. The MoU was signed by Yang Wei, Mayor of Loudi City , and Shafay Hussain, Minister for the Industries, Commerce and Investment Department of the Government of Punjab, at a ceremony in Lahore, witnessed by Sun Yan, Consul General of China in Lahore. The agreement establishes a framework for long-term collaboration in economic development, trade, investment and cultural exchange, reflecting the growing synergy between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. The sister city partnership is expected to facilitate knowledge sharing and technical cooperation in key sectors, particularly in agricultural modernization where Loudi's manufacturing strengths complement Gujrat's industrial and agricultural base. During the visit, Mayor Yang Wei led a delegation of chairpersons from five Loudi-based enterprises, including three small agricultural machinery manufacturers and two small home appliance companies, for a three-day business mission in Lahore. The delegation conducted on-site inspections and held substantive discussions with their Pakistani counterparts to explore cooperation projects in the agricultural machinery sector, CEN reported. In a parallel development, Liu Yongzhong, President of the Loudi Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and Hu Zhuling, President of the Liaison Center of the Pakistan-Hunan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, signed a friendship and cooperation agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Under the agreement, the two sides will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in economic development, science and technology, cultural engagement, investment promotion, and personnel visits, further facilitating business-to-business ties and fostering a more robust bilateral trade ecosystem.