PM’s China visit to focus on joint ventures: FM

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday said the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to China would encompass discussions on advancing joint ventures and pacing up progress on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) besides attending the Beijing Olympic ceremony as a gesture of solidarity.

In a statement ahead of PM Imran’s visit from February 3 to 5, the foreign minister said Pakistan and China stood with each other in difficult times and the main purpose of the visit was to express solidarity with China as several countries boycotted the Beijing Olympics.

He added that besides Olympics, discussions would take place in line with the consultations of the special task force on boosting Pak-China trade volume and economic stability.

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Qureshi also mentioned that the task force headed by the prime minister met several times, conducted sessions with stakeholders and formulated a policy guideline on exploiting trade potential between the two countries.

During his stay in Beijing, he said, the premier will meet his counterpart and the Chinese president, adding that economic diplomacy was the centerpiece of Pakistan’s foreign policy to ensure prosperity of the common man.

To achieve this goal, the foreign minister further said, investment and bilateral trade with other countries particularly China have special significance.

Shedding light on hosting the 48th meeting of OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23, Qureshi said the meeting of OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir had also been added to the schedule to discuss the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.