ISLAMABAD-
President Mamnoon Hussain will pay on official visit to China from 18-20 February.
According to Foreign Office this is his first state visit abroad after assuming office of the President, and he will be the first dignitary to meet Chinese leadership after Chinese New Year celebrations (year of the horse).
During the visit, President Mamnoon Hussain will hold summit-level talks with President Xi Jinping.
He will also have meetings with Premier Li Keqiang and Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China besides interacting with senior officials and government functionaries.
The visit signifies another hallmark in the strengthened and growing bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.
Soon after the announcement of the historic Pakistan-China economic corridor, the two countries have started planning on implementation of infrastructure projects to concretize the gains of connectivity.
This visit may be seen as a reiteration of Pakistan’s commitment to establish close, cordial, cooperative and friendly ties with its long-standing strategic partner.
During the President’s visit, the second meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will beconvened on 18 February.
Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform will lead delegation to attend the meeting.
The JCC will finalize and decide on the implementation of mutually agreed projects of the Economic Corridor.
Economic Cooperation between Pakistan and China has expanded significantly in recent years.
Under a comprehensive framework Pakistan and China have bilateral economic cooperation in the form of Joint Economic Commission, Economic Cooperation Group, Joint Energy Working Group and a Joint Investment Committee, besides several other mechanisms.
Trade volume has crossed the figure of US$ 12 billion, with Pakistan’s exports increasing by 48%.
The visit of the President will be another milestone in the traditionally tested and ever expanding multifaceted and multidimensional relationship between the two neighbours.
