ISLAMABAD:
China’s foreign ministry on Saturday denied releasing any information regarding President Xi Jingping’s visit to Pakistan.
“China and Pakistan have maintained close high-level exchanges… [and] are in close communication regarding the next step of such exchanges,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang told reporters at a news conference in Beijing.
“It is worth pointing out [however] that we never released any information about President Xi’s visit to Pakistan officially,” he said. “So, there is no basis to say we are about to cancel anything.”
At the same time, the spokesperson expressed hope that all major political stakeholders in Pakistan would be able to ‘resolve their differences and restore national security’.
“As for the current situation in Pakistan, we hope relevant parties in Pakistan can work together while bearing in mind the fundamental interests of the state and the people, and jointly safeguard national security,” he said.
The Pakistani government, on the other hand, maintained that the postponement of President Xi’s visit was ‘mutually agreed upon’ by Islamabad and Beijing.
A statement released by Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Saturday said the decision was taken by both countries in view of the current political situation in Pakistan. It added that new dates for the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan were being discussed through diplomatic channels.
“China and Pakistan are time-tested, all-weather friends. We are trying our best to ensure that the visit takes place as early as possible,” the statement read.
Earlier, on Friday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s top aide on foreign affairs, Sartaj Aziz, announced that the Chinese president had decided to put off his visit to Pakistan due to possible security threats in light of ongoing protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Islamabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2014.
COMMENTS (35)
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This is an insult to the honor and dignity of Pakistan.
I m not PMLN supporter at all but I am a journalist. This news should have been checked before going on-line. People have already shared the actual link to Chinese response and I will do the same. The actual response suggests that trip was delayed because of political situation in Pakistan. I am sure Tribune will take notice of this error because this does not match the standards they have set for themselves.
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/fyrth/t1188865.htm
Since the visit was privately agreed upon without an official announcement, the Pak Govt. should not have made the private conversations public. That it did was because it assumed normality, which did not exist. The visit was also cancelled privately. But when the Pak Govt. publicly announced a privately cancelled visit, the Chinese Govt had to officially deny it. The Chinese Govt did not understand the nuances of Pakistan politics and publicly announced that no visit was agreed upon. The Chinese have to fine tune their understanding of Pakistan politics as well as they need to refine their diplomacy finesse. This mix-up by the two Governments is being exploited by those opposed to the Govt. of Pakistan.
Go Nawaz GO! You cant stay on moral and ethical reasons in the parliament. You and candidates of the parliament must resign ! We dont want a Prime Minister who lies to his civilians!
guys; make a differenation between an offcial annoucenment and working out the deails. PTI supportes answer this; Why the security team of PTI cam to Pakistan?And was IK lying when he said he talked to Chinses emabassy to assure them of PTI supoport to the visit. Why he didnt receive the answer that it is not palnned anyway. ?Was he lying?
@Israr: I guess so. Pakistan would have taken up the matter quite strongly. The second statement was probably made not to embarrass Pakistan, although I can't believe they would not have scheduled a visit to Pakistan while going to India.
@SUB
Fake html go and take some fresh air dude.
@SUB: Read this as well... This came on 5th September 2014. http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188665.shtml
Lies are a norm of "democracy" in Pakistan
So Pakistan Govt wanted to use the Chinese for their internal politics, but the Chinese wouldn't play ball? What was that again ........ a friendship hotter than the hottest air?
The Chinese FM spokesperson on the 5th
"Q: Media reports said that China has cancelled President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan out of security concerns. Can you confirm that? A: China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors enjoying all-weather friendship and comprehensive cooperation. We have maintained close high-level exchanges. Both sides are in close communication on the next step of such exchanges. It is worth pointing out that we have never released any information about President Xi's visit to Pakistan officially. So, there is no basis to say we are about to cancel anything."
And on the 6th
"Q: It is reported that the Pakistani side announced that President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan has been postponed. Please confirm that. A: China and Pakistan have been maintaining communication for some time on President's Xi Jinping's state visit to Pakistan in mid September, and have made productive preparation for this visit. In view of the current political situation in Pakistan, the Governments of China and Pakistan have mutually agreed to postponement of the state visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place later this month. New dates for President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan, at an early date, are being finalized through diplomatic channels."
What's going on? A Chines U-turn?
@Ali Hassan: LOL. Read the link given by SUB above. Maybe it is IK and a different media group doing the lying?
Juvenile PTI followers don't have a clue as to how diplomacy works . Shame on them for bringing Pakistan into disrepute .
Even if our FO was telling the truth... can anyone imagine that a foreign govt is tactfully trying to downplay the situation, but our own Foreign Office is going around shouting about the "Security Situation" in the country?!
What is wrong with these people? Anything to please the King?
Can our FO please just shut up? Or is it bent upon picking a fight with the Chinese simply to try and embarrass Imran Khan?
@Sami: do you even google or you believe in following Imran Khan Blindly?
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188865.shtml
Thanks to imran khan and tahir ul qadri to take the name of pakistan to the height of glory
Shame on PMLN led Govt and certain media Group on lieing yet again with nation. Chinese President trip was never scheduled and/ or confirmed.
You are talking about this news (older one): http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188665.shtml
However this is the latest Press Release from China Forign Affairs: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188865.shtml
We expect the latest news from ET now not old ones!
Unbelievable how a Govt can lie like this ? How can someone trust them with anything now ? Imran Khan is Absolutely right ! How can someone trust them with Election Audit ?
The whole world must be laughing at us specially China shame on you
Fair enough we should expect any lie from the "democracy"
Just for the record, regardless of all the political satire these days, how can i trust a government that lies to me everyday?. Even for something as unrelated to me as a visit of the Chinese premier?.
It's a disgrace.
The Chinese are definitely hedging their bets astutely. They now claim that the confirmed trip of President Xi to Pakistan was never finalized or confirmed, making their Pakistani counterparts look like fools if not children deprived of their candy. Very insulting behavior without a doubt. After looking at the recent developments across the Middle East and the very real likelihood of terror groups from there linking up with those in the AFPAK region, China is feeling nervous due to the proximity of Xinjiang to these troublesome regions. Secondly, in the new scenario both Afghanistan and Pakistan are looking very unstable considering there are a greater number of trained Jihadi's here than the rest of the world put together. Chinese being Chinese always prefer to see which side their bread is buttered, free doles and handouts not in their scheme of things. Realization has been slow to seep in that redeeming any Investments made in this region would be a daunting task. With ISIS already threatening Russia, next will be China. This time around the world may unite against terror, which means all the franchises and subsidaries could be targeted, more so in countries that like to play on both sides.
"I am willing to pay a state visit to Pakistan at a time convenient for both sides, and thus to promote bilateral strategic coordination and practical cooperation to a new level."
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/zxxx662805/t1159603.shtml
It was always a part of the plan to visit Pakistan.
What does this mean, that the visit was not (yet) officially scheduled?
This is just proactive steps by the Pak side to avoid embarassment when Xi Jingping visits India later this month and people start wondering why their 'higher than the mountains' friend didn't even stop over on the way back. So they have blamed it on the current political situation, which is quite convenient from this perspective. Xi Jingping's visit was confirmed almost as soon as Modi took office, so isn't it amazing that no definite dates were ever released for the Pak visit if were indeed on the cards?
"The Pakistani government, on the other hand, maintained that the postponement of President Xi’s visit was ‘mutually agreed upon’ by Islamabad and Beijing."
China denies this and says no such information regarding President Xi Jingping’s visit was given to Pakistan.
What a bunch of lies by pakistan FO.Somalia even do not give such irresponsible statements like pak FO did and is doing in many other cases.
The only reason of cancellation of visit or non cooperation from Chinese government is due to legitimacy of Nawaz Government.
Another lie.. combines all the lies and the conversation of parliamentarians exposing each other - one should understand that this parliament is no more legitimate.
Another Lie by PMLN.. When people will start to understand???
Eat this:
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188865.shtml
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Remarks on the Postponement of President Xi Jinping's Visit to Pakistan
2014/09/06
Q: It is reported that the Pakistani side announced that President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan has been postponed. Please confirm that.
A: China and Pakistan have been maintaining communication for some time on President's Xi Jinping's state visit to Pakistan in mid September, and have made productive preparation for this visit. In view of the current political situation in Pakistan, the Governments of China and Pakistan have mutually agreed to postponement of the state visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place later this month. New dates for President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan, at an early date, are being finalized through diplomatic channels.
Both countries underline that China and Pakistan are time-tested all-weather friends. Both sides attach high importance to the visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan, as early as possible, for promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two.