China welcomes PM Imran's participation in 2nd Belt and Road Forum

Premier to leave for Beijing on April 25 at invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping

BEIJING: China has welcomed Prime Minister Imran Khan's scheduled participation in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will be held from April 25-27, 2019 in Beijing.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang, during a routine press briefing on Tuesday, said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) had delivered benefits to the people of two countries with concrete outcomes.

"We have every confidence to work with Pakistan to promote greater progress in this project to deliver greater benefits to our people," Radio Pakistan quoted him as saying.

CPEC, the spokesperson observed, had set a good example for other projects under the BRI.

The project aims to connect China's Kashgar with Gwadar port through a network of rail, road and pipeline projects.

PM Imran, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, will participate in the forum along with a high-level delegation comprising federal ministers and other senior officials.

On the first day he will attend the inaugural session of the forum and deliver a keynote speech.

He will also attend the state banquet to be hosted by President Xi in the honour of world leaders.

He, along with other world leaders, will attend the leaders' roundtable sessions on the event's second day.

The prime minister will also hold meetings with President Xi, his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang to promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

A number of agreements are expected to be signed to further promote cooperation between the two countries under the CPEC framework during the visit.

PM Imran will also meet world leaders on the sidelines of the forum.