President Alvi confers Hilal-e-Pakistan on Chinese vice premier He Lifeng

Islamabad: President Dr Arif Alvi conferred Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng the Hilal-i-Pakistan award on Monday

President conferred Hilal-i-Pakistan to He Lifeng for his contributions to the friendship between Pakistan and China and the promotion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

PM Shehbaz, the service chiefs, the Speaker of the National Assembly, federal ministers, the Chairman of the Senate, and parliamentarians attended the special investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

The Hilal-i-Pakistan Award honors those who have made exceptional contributions to Pakistan's national interests.

The national anthems of both nations were played to kick off the ceremony.

In order to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the CPEC, He Lifeng, who is also President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy, is in Pakistan at the invitation of the government.

He has been a major player in the Belt and Road Initiative, of which CPEC is the centerpiece project, and China's foreign economic connections.

Furthermore, He played a key role in the development and implementation of numerous CPEC projects in Pakistan while serving as the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (2017–2023).

In addition to assisting with the implementation of energy projects, He Lifeng pushed for Pakistan's industrialization and socioeconomic advancement.