PM Imran has left for a four-day visit to China on Thursday. In this regard, government ministers shed light on the importance of his trip, stating that it would serve a number of purposes ranging from strategic to economic.
The PM, during his visit, will attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics 2022 in Beijing and hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
According to the Foreign Office, the PM’s visit from February 3 to 6 has been scheduled on the Chinese leadership’s special invitation.
As per the details, the PM will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the cabinet and senior government officials.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a statement carried by Radio Pakistan, said that many Chinese companies were “desirous” of investing in Pakistan and the prime minister was expected to meet many of their heads.
He said relations between the two countries had further strengthened and the premier’s visit would further expand them and promote high-level exchanges.
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin said it was a “very important” trip politically and economically. He added that China would be asked to relocate its industry in Pakistan since special economic zones were all ready and it would be a “win-win situation”.
“The prime minister will also [ask] them to help us in our agriculture transformation plan because agriculture holds a very important place for us,” Tarin said.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry echoed the views, saying that the trip would serve to expand Pakistan-China relations.
Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf stressed the trip’s importance in regards to solving the Afghan crisis, explaining that the issue would be discussed during the visit as well.
Planning Minister Asad Umar said the trip was coming at a “highly important time”. A special book had been prepared which would explain why Pakistan was a prime destination for investment and it would be presented to the Chinese leadership, he shared.
“We believe that there will be further swiftness in the pace of Chinese investments in Pakistan,” Umar said.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood said many aspects of trade would be discussed and there were some areas in the free trade agreement which needed to be “improved”.
It is pertinent to note that the PM’s visit will mark the culmination of celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, with more than 140 events organised to showcase the resilience of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
