Guo Guirong (right), vice-mayor of Xiamen, in Fujian province, meets with Masood Khalid, Pakistan's ambassador to China, on June 5. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]

Guo Guirong, vice-mayor of Xiamen, in Fujian province, met with Masood Khalid, Pakistani ambassador to China, on June 5.

Guo extended a warm welcome to Khalid. She said that Xiamen has constantly optimized its business environment and sought a sustainable economic and social development since China's reform and opening-up 40 years ago.

She said Xiamen is now taking an active part in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, to boost its high-end manufacturing and modern service industries.

Guo added that Pakistan is a vital country along the Silk Road Economic Belt and hoped that the ambassador would take the visit as an opportunity to promote the two sides' practical cooperation in economic, cultural, tourism and infrastructure construction.

Khalid said that Pakistan had heeded the call for the Belt and Road Initiative. Both the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and the construction of special economic zone in Pakistan offered China and Pakistan huge economic and trade opportunities.

He said he was impressed by Xiamen's beautiful environment and the remarkable achievements made by the city in recent times, and he expected further mutal understanding between Xiamen and Pakistan and practical cooperation in mining, textiles and the fishery industries as well as cooperation involving business parks.

Masood Khalid poses for a group photo with Guo Guirong and other officials from the Xiamen Municipal Government. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]