PM Sharif holds meeting to prepare for important visit to China

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting to review the preparations for his upcoming important visit to China, wherein he directed the formulation of comprehensive plans to hold result-oriented business-to-business meetings between the two countries.

He instructed the relevant authorities to devise strategies for attracting Chinese industries to set up their units in Pakistan, assuring his government’s all-out facilitation to the industrialists and investors.

During the briefing to the Prime Minister on the preparations for his China visit, it was told that a delegation of industrialists, investors, and businessmen would accompany him to China’s Shenzhen city. The delegation would hold meetings with the Chinese business community to promote business-to-business linkages between the two countries.

The Prime Minister directed Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi to extend all-out facilitation to the Pakistani business delegation during its visit there.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal ministers including Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Attaullah Tarar, Dr Musaddik Malik, and Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of State Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan and senior government officers.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Pakistan’s Ambassador in Beijing joined the meeting via video link.

Prime Minister Sharif will visit China from June 4 to 8 at the invitation from President Xi Jinping.

The upcoming visit aims to enhance cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pivotal component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Mumtaz Baloch, the spokesperson for Foreign Office, said at a news briefing: “An important aspect of the prime minister’s visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing with oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies.”
During the visit, PM Sharif will meet with President Xi Jinping and engage in delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang.

Baloch emphasized that China has invested billions in Pakistan through the US $ 65 billion CPEC plan, funding various power projects and road networks. However, the implementation of several projects has slowed in recent months.

Since 2013, Chinese investment and financial support have been crucial for stabilizing Pakistan’s struggling economy. This support includes rolling over loans to help Islamabad meet its external financing needs, especially during times when foreign reserves are critically low.