PM Shehbaz to visit China in early June

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is slated to visit China from June 4 to 7. This will mark his first official visit to Beijing since assuming office following the February 8 general elections.

During his four-day state visit, Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold crucial meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Discussions will primarily focus on the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other bilateral issues.

Currently, Prime Minister Sharif is in the United Arab Emirates for a day-long visit. He is scheduled to meet with UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with other key Emirati dignitaries, business leaders, and financial institution heads.

The upcoming visit to China follows a recent diplomatic engagement by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who visited Beijing for the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the dialogue reinforced commitments to expedite CPEC projects.

Pakistan and China have agreed to accelerate the implementation of CPEC projects across various sectors. This understanding was formalized during a meeting between Pakistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, and China’s Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zhao Chenxin, in Beijing.

Key agreements from this meeting include the execution of the Industrial Cooperation Framework Agreement and the development of an Action Plan to modernize Pakistan’s industry, mining, and mineral sectors. Both sides also prioritized cooperation in artificial intelligence and agricultural modernization under CPEC’s second phase.

Additionally, they pledged to enhance connectivity in the coastal city of Gwadar by constructing the Eastbay Expressway, aiming to fully leverage the potential of Gwadar’s port and industrial zone.

Prime Minister Sharif’s impending visit is anticipated to further solidify the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, with a focus on economic collaboration and infrastructural development under the ambitious CPEC framework.