- PM Nawaz likely to have meetings with President Xi, PM Li in Beijing
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s visit to China and his participation in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, scheduled to be held here on May 14 and 15, will boost the ongoing economic cooperation between Pakistan and China and further promote ‘Belt and Road Initiative.’
This was stated by Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang while responding to a question during his regular press briefing here on Wednesday. “Pakistan is an important partner of China in promoting One Belt One Road Initiative,” he said.
“We believe that Prime Minister Nawaz’s visit and his attendance at the forum will give a boost to our cooperation in the relevant fields,” he said. The prime minister is scheduled to arrive in the Chinese capital on Friday to attend the forum on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The spokesperson said, as an organiser and host of the forum, China would warmly welcome all the guests from around the world including Pakistan. He said that the CPEC was a premier and pilot project of the One Belt One Road Initiative and progress has already made in this regard.
“The forum will be held from May 14, 15 and we all are looking forward to it,” he added. During his stay in China, Prime Minister Nawaz will also hold important meetings with the top Chinese leadership particularly President Xi and Prime Minister Li Kaqiang to further promote bilateral relations.
On the first day of the forum, the prime minister will attend the inaugural session of the One Belt One Road summit, plenary meeting of the high-level dialogue and the state banquet. The prime minister will also attend leaders roundtable sessions scheduled to be held on the second day of the forum.
As many as, 28 heads of the state and the government, over 50 leaders of international organisations, over 100 ministerial-level officials, as well as over 1,200 delegates from various countries and regions would participate in the forum.
The gathering will build consensus and connect development strategies of various countries and will also examine cooperation in key areas and finalise major projects in infrastructure connectivity, trade and investment, financial support and people-to-people exchanges, according to a senior official of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.