LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday visited the Chinese Consulate and met with Chinese Consul General Mr. Long Dingbin.

During the meeting, different matters of mutual interest including Pak-China relations and progress on CPEC related projects came under discussion.

The Chief Minister congratulated the Chinese Consul General on the start of new Chinese Year. He also extended congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jingping, Prime Minister, the leadership of Communist Party of China as well as the Chinese people.

On the occasion, the Chinese Consul General said that Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set a record by completing different projects with unprecedented speed. Shehbaz Sharif had played a marvelous role for his country with his vision and hard work, he said and added that new standards of development had been set in Punjab due to the Chief Minister's committed leadership.

He said, the Chinese leadership also acknowledged the hard work of Shehbaz Sharif. He said that CPEC projects had been promoted in a transparent manner and they were an example of its own. China was standing alongside you in the journey of development, he added.

Shehbaz Sharif said that Pak-China relations had turned into strong economic ties and bilateral relations between both the countries were touching new heights in present era. He appreciated the fact that Chinese leadership had proved its friendship by supporting Pakistan in every hour of trial. He said that Pakistani economy had been strengthened due to Chinese investment to the tune of billions of dollars.

He said, "Not only Pakistan but the whole region will benefit from CPEC which is a project of unusual development and prosperity and it has also changed the dynamics of the region. Our friends are happy over the CPEC, while the enemy is in pain due to this marvelous project."

No conspiracy could encumber the CPEC and due to the completion of energy projects, Pakistan had got rid of the darkness of load-shedding, he added.

Chinese Consul General also hosted a banquet in honor of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.