PM Nawaz to attend APEC meeting in China next month

PM will visit China in the first week of November to sign various projects including energy projects worth $34 billion

ISLAMABAD: PM Nawaz Sharif has been invited by President Xi Jinping to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders' meeting in Beijing next month.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong called on PM Nawaz Sharif on Friday and conveyed Xi’s invitation to him, said an official handout.

The PM expressed his gratitude on receiving President Xi’s invitation, saying he looked forward to his visit to Pakistan, which he believed would take Pak-China relations to a higher level.

Weidong said the Chinese president welcomed the prime minister to attend the host-partners dialogue to be held in APEC meeting in Beijing next month, and will visit Pakistan at an early and mutually convenient date.

Matters of mutual interest were discussed, while PM Nawaz also appreciated Chinese efforts in rehabilitation of flood victims and the IDPs.

According to officials, PM will visit China in the first week of November to sign various projects including energy related projects worth $34 billion.

The Chinese president was supposed to visit Pakistan in September but could not get a security clearance owing to the anti-government protests in the federal capital.

An annual APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is attended by the heads of government of all APEC members. The location of the meeting rotates annually among members, and this time it’s going to be held in Beijing.