KPT signs MoU with Chinese department

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A six-member delegation of the Guangdong Province, China, led by Liu Zhigeng, Vice Governor, Guangdong Province, visited the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for strengthening of port and shipping connectivity and for establishing cooperation between Guangdong Provincial Transportation Department and the KPT.

The MoU was signed by the Chairman KPT, Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed, and the Director General, Department of Transport Guangdong Province, China, Zeng Zhaogeng. 

The MoU acknowledged the existing friendly relations between Pakistan and China and pledged the desire of strengthening the existing friendly relations through cooperative activities at ports in Guangdong Province and Karachi Port which are transportation hubs of the two countries. 

The MoU envisaged promoting cooperation in port and shipping logistics, strengthening communications and establishing closer ties between the two countries. 

Among others, the ceremony was attended by the Minister for Ports and Shipping, Senator Kamran Michael, and other top officials of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the KPT besides the members of visiting delegation. 

During the ceremony it was informed that both the KPT and the Guangdong Province ports have mutually agreed to cooperate in the field of freight and logistics, especially in port and shipping industry, thus serving the import, export and transhipment of goods from Guangdong province. 

They agreed on jointly studying policies for promoting the development in freight and logistics of both the signing parties for strengthening freight and logistics information connectivity for facilitating and accelerating customs clearance for the reduction of companies’ logistics cost. 

It was also agreed that both the parties will boost all round cooperation in investment and operation by the port logistics of their respective countries. With regards to improving professional and management skills of the managers of the port and shipping industry, it was agreed to carry out professional education and training in the field of port and shipping and logistics. 

Provision has been kept for further consultations on cooperation and other issues of common concern as both the parties have endeavored to engage the administrative authorities and industry associations of the respective two countries for maintaining constant contact and for sending their representatives to visit each other for communication advancement. 

The signatory countries undertook to strengthen friendly relations and cooperation in port logistics which will eventually promote extensive communication and cooperation in the economy of the districts where the ports are located.