Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang
PM Shehbaz Sharif to Embark on Five-Day Visit to China on Tuesday
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. — Reuters/Files
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on an official five-day visit to China from June 4-8, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, announced the Foreign Office on Friday.
During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will meet with President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. He will also have meetings with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and heads of key government departments.
The prime minister will visit economic and agricultural zones and address the Pakistan-China Business Forum, according to the Foreign Office spokesperson.
A significant aspect of PM Shehbaz’s visit will be meetings with corporate executives from leading Chinese companies in the oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies sectors. He will also address the China-Pakistan Business Forum in Shenzhen, engaging with businesspersons, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries.
The premier’s visit underscores the strong Pakistan-China friendship, marked by frequent high-level exchanges and dialogue. Discussions will aim to further strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advance trade and investment, and enhance cooperation in security and defence, energy, space, science and technology, education, and cultural exchange.
Earlier today, PM Shehbaz chaired a meeting to review preparations for his upcoming visit, directing the formulation of comprehensive plans for result-oriented business-to-business meetings. He emphasized strategies to attract Chinese industries to set up units in Pakistan, assuring government support to industrialists and investors.
A delegation of Pakistani industrialists, investors, and businessmen will accompany the prime minister to Shenzhen, where they will meet with the Chinese business community to promote business-to-business linkages.
The prime minister instructed Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, to provide full support to the Pakistani business delegation during their visit.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Attaullah Tarar, Dr. Musaddik Malik, and Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, and senior government officers. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Beijing participated via video link.
