Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit China to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit China to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation/Reuters

Dil Bar Irshad | May 31, 2024 | 10:33 PM IST | Breaking News, China, Pakistan News, World | Follow on Google News

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit China to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit China to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation

1. Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China focuses on upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
2. The visit includes discussions on enhancing trade, defense, and cooperation in various sectors.
3. Meetings with Chinese leadership and business forums will strengthen bilateral ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from June 4 to 8, following invitations from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry confirmed. During his visit, Shehbaz Sharif will engage in discussions with Chinese leadership to bolster the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a significant part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and to enhance trade, defense, and cooperation across multiple sectors.

The visit will encompass three segments. In Beijing, Sharif will meet with President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang. These discussions will focus on upgrading the $50 billion CPEC, advancing trade and investment, and strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The 3,000 km infrastructure project aims to connect Pakistan’s Gwadar and Karachi ports to China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Besides Beijing, Sharif will visit Xian and Shenzhen. In Beijing, he will also meet with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and heads of key government departments. In Shenzhen, Sharif will address the Pakistan-China Business Forum, engaging with leading entrepreneurs and investors from both countries. This forum will provide an opportunity to explore joint ventures and investment opportunities, particularly in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, information and communication technology, and emerging technologies.

Additionally, Sharif’s visit will include tours of economic and agricultural zones in China, further emphasizing the commitment to enhancing bilateral economic cooperation. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, highlighted that the visit underscores the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan, marked by frequent high-level exchanges and dialogues aimed at strengthening strategic ties.

Dil Bar Irshad

Dil Bar Irshad is a seasoned journalist, hails from Jammu Kashmir's Doda, covers political, social, business stories, index stories.