ISLAMABAD: As Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed the hope that his Chinese counterpart’s four-day bilateral visit would be “productive”.
During his visit, Premier Li would also attend the much-anticipated 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG), which is taking place on October 15 and 16 amid stringent security measures.
The government has announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, with schools and businesses shut, and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed.Li’s visit to Pakistan is said to be the first by a Chinese premier in 11 years, with the last one by Li Keqiang in May 2013.
The esteemed Chinese guest was received by PM Shehbaz upon his arrival at Rawalpindi’s Nur Khan Airbase and welcomed with a 21-gun salute, PTV News reported.Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other top government officials were also present on the occasion, PTV News added.
Shortly after Li’s arrival, PM Shehbaz said he was delighted to welcome his Chinese counterpart and looked forward to a “historic and productive visit”.
“We will review progress on existing initiatives, especially CPEC and also explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation. Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership is a cornerstone of regional stability and prosperity,” he said on X.
The Chinese premier also met Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir.The Chinese premier and PM Shehbaz will attend a ceremony where Memorandums of Understanding regarding China-Pakistan cooperation, including CPEC-2 and other major projects, will be signed, Radio Pakistan reported.
It added that the ceremony would also feature the virtual inauguration of the China-funded $200-million Gwadar International Airport, whose launch was delayed following deadly attacks across Balochistan in August.
According to a Foreign Office statement, Premier Li will call on President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders and senior military leadership of the country.The FO termed the Chinese official’s visit as “an expression of the importance attached by Pakistan and China to their ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’”.
