Islamabad: Chinese Premier Li Qiang is set to kick off a four-day visit to Pakistan today, October 14. During his trip, he will not only attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit but also inaugurate the highly anticipated Gwadar Airport, a key infrastructure project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
According to Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Premier Li Qiang will lead their respective delegations in bilateral talks. The Chinese Premier will be accompanied by ministers of foreign affairs, commerce, and other high-ranking officials.
The spokesperson further stated that both Prime Ministers will have comprehensive discussions on economic and trade relations, and cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Both sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments. It is expected that the Chinese Premier will inaugurate the Gwadar Airport during his visit.
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Chinese Premier Li Qiang is undertaking a bilateral visit to Pakistan from October 14 to 17, 2024, the spokesperson stated. Premier Li is accompanied by ministers and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Premier Li Qiang will lead their respective delegations to comprehensively discuss all aspects of Pakistan-China relations, including economic and trade ties and cooperation under CPEC. The two sides will also discuss regional and global developments, the spokesperson added.
The Chinese Premier will call on President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders and senior military leadership of Pakistan. He will also attend the Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization being held in Islamabad.
The spokesperson, Baloch, said that Premier Li’s visit to Islamabad is an expression of the importance attached by Pakistan and China to their “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.” It will be an occasion for the two sides to reaffirm mutual support on issues of core interest, advance high-quality development of CPEC, and reinforce regular exchanges on important regional and global developments.
