Loudi, Gujrat forge sister-city alliance to boost trade, investment

• MoU opens a new chapter of institutionalized, long-term and pragmatic cooperation in trade, investment, industry and cultural exchange

 BEIJING/ISLAMABAD: China and Pakistan took another step toward strengthening their strategic partnership as Loudi City of China’s Hunan Province and Gujrat in Pakistan’s Punjab province signed a sister-city memorandum of understanding (MoU), opening a new chapter of institutionalized, long-term and pragmatic cooperation in trade, investment, industry and cultural exchange.

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 sustained 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 agricultural modernization, where Loudi’s manufacturing expertise complements Gujrat’s industrial and agricultural strengths, paving the way for mutually beneficial industrial collaboration.

During the visit, Mayor Yang Wei led a delegation comprising chairpersons of five Loudi-based enterprises, including three agricultural machinery manufacturers and two home appliance companies, on a three-day business mission to 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.

Chinese, Pakistani educational institutions boost academic, cultural cooperation

In a related development, the Lahore Chinese International Academy (LCIA) and the University of Management and Technology (UMT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in academic exchange, cultural activities and institutional support, expanding their academic cooperation network and injecting fresh momentum into China-Pakistan educational and cultural relations.

The agreement was signed by He Yubing, Vice Principal of LCIA, and Dr. Nadia Anwar, Acting Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at UMT, at a ceremony in Lahore.

The MoU places special emphasis on Chinese language training while promoting greater cultural understanding among students and faculty members of both institutions, CEN reported.

As a leading institution for Chinese language education in Pakistan, LCIA has long been committed to strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Pakistan. The academy has previously collaborated with local universities and institutions, including the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), on language training programmes, reinforcing educational cooperation and fostering deeper cultural understanding between the two friendly countries.