PM Imran Khan plans China visit in early July

Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan plans to visit Iron Brother China in the first week of July, officials said.

Government officials said the dates for the visit will be announced soon. “The schedule is being finalised (between the two governments ). The visit is coming up most probably in the first week of July,” a government official said.

The visit is aimed at giving further impetus to the projects under the multi-billion-dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Prime Minister Imran Khan had paid his first official visit to China on 2-5 November 2018. In Beijing, he had met with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, Chairman Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Li Zhanshu and Vice President Wang Qishan. He had also met with Minister of International Department of the Comunist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Song Tao, Chairman of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and had interactions with leading corporate leaders of China. In Shanghai, the Prime Minister had attended the opening ceremony of the 1st China International Import Expo (CIIE).

The Prime Minister again visited China from 25-28 April 2019 to participate in the 2nd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation.

He delivered a speech at the Opening Ceremony of BRF on 26 April and participated in the Leaders Roundtable on 27 April. During the visit, the Prime Minister held meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in which the entire range of bilateral relationship, including implementation of Phase-II of CPEC, was discussed. Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Both sides also discussed important regional and international issues, including peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and peace and stability in South Asia, and agreed to deepen cooperation at the multilateral fora.

Later that year, Prime Minister Imran Khan undertook another visit to China from 7-9 October 2019 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. During the visit, the Prime Minister met with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman NPC Li Zhanshu.

During the upcoming proposed visit, the Prime Minister expects to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations with special focus on the CPEC related projects.

The PM will also seek the assistance of Chinese leadership for promotion of Chinese companies’ investment in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) being built under the CPEC, close aides said.

He will also brief the Chinese leadership about the incentives announced in the budget 2021-22 for promotion of investment in the SEZs

PM Imran Khan recently launched Rashakai Special Economic Zone which has so far attracted Chinese investment worth $ 128 million. The zone will be developed in three phases. About 247 acres of land would be developed in the first phase, 355 acres in the second phase and 399 acres in the last phase. 400 industrial units, including garments and textile, domestic goods, electronics, electricity accessories, pharmaceuticals and others would be set up in the zone.

The Prime Minister wants early relocation of Chinese sunset industries to Rashakai and other economic zones in order to bolster the exports and revenues.

Another project that will be in the limelight during the Prime Minister’s China visit will be that of Main Line 1 (ML-1) which envisages upgradation of railways network from Karachi to Peshawar.

The PM is likely to seek early approval of US $ 6 billion funds from the Exim Bank for start of work on this strategic project that will not only help check train accidents but also make Pakistan hub of regional trade.