"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 HE Xi Jinping, President of China, to Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place later this month," the statement read.
Earlier on Friday, Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, had said as much in a prepared statement to the National Assembly foreign affairs committee. The Foreign Office's statement today confirmed the postponement.
The Chinese foreign office had earlier denied reports that the visit was to take place at all.
"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," a spokesperson had said.
The prevailing political crisis that has engulfed the nation's capital since August 14 has made Pakistan "a laughing stock," according to Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal.
Protest leaders Tahirul Qadri and Imran Khan laid the blame for the postponement squarely on the government. "If the government can't provide security to its own people, how can it provide security to the Chinese president?" Qadri had said in a speech on September 4.
China confirms Jinping's visit postponed
China on Saturday confirmed that the state tour of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan had been postponed.
According to a statement, the foreign ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said that in view of the current political situation in Pakistan, both governments had mutually agreed to postpone the visit.
Gang added that China and Pakistan had been maintaining communication for some time on President Xi Jinping's state visit to Pakistan in mid-September and had made productive preparations for the visit.
However, no new dates were announced. “New dates for President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan, at an early date, are being finalised through diplomatic channels,” the statement read.
COMMENTS (17)
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Dear fellow Pakistanis:
As a Pakistani living in China and other Asian countries, I can honestly tell you that no one wants us in their country.
If you believe the whole myth about "higher than mountain sweeter than honey" blah blah nonsense, then I advice you to visit China sometime and see how the government will treat you (if they even give you a visa!) compared with how they treat people from all other countries (including poor Africans, Asians, etc)
We should stop lying to ourselves. We are completely isolated in the world.
chines president was visiting three countries ,pakistan ,india and far east .Now only india and far east.China is friendly country and they will never use word cancellation as this will embarrass a friendly country.Chines security official were here for three day and even had contact with IK and TUQ . I am disappointed for IK and his followers . @Anon:
WHAT IS TTRUE WHAT IS FALSE, THIS IS 6TH SEPTEMBER CHINA FOREIGN OFFICE STATEMENT
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188865.shtmllink text
@Saleem: Which one is true this is 6th September statement of China's Foreign Office: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510_665401/t1188865.shtml
I am Pakistani living in China, feel so embarrassment, the postpone visit of Chinese PM, After Allah, China is only true friend of Pakistan, have so close friendly relations.. China big progress is only because of sincerity of Leaders and National spirit of people, in our country we dont have any, God help us....
THERE WAS NO SCHEDULE FOR CHINES PRESIDENT VISIT TO PAKISTAN,IT WAS LAY LAY LAY,JUST TO BLAME PTI BECAUSE OF YOU IT WAS CANCEL, I THINK PML N ARE LIVING IN THE 18 TH C,THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT PEOPLE CAN FIND OUT ON NET ABOUT THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT.
@Saleem: I don't get it. If there was no visit why are IK and TUQ saying it was cancelled because of the government. IK and TUQ are lying???
Isn't Nawaz Sharif our Foreign Minister too? Hard to believe he has such a great influence on strong bureaucratic institution such as Foreign Office. But nonetheless possible.
Xi is his last name and Jinping his first. Usually you refer to people by their last names so it should be "Xi's visit".
If NS lost a dollar for every time N league lied to the country, He would be begging on the streets right now.
FYI...President visit didn't schedule as per Chinese Foreign Office statement, then how it could be postponed?
Still lying - this statement is not from Foreign Office.
This is how "all weather" works!!
More lies...that trip was never scheduled. For reference please check Chinese foreign office website .see http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510665401/2511665403/t1188665.shtml
See the third question and answer.
ET this is very bad in corroborated reporting!
The rulers have become a laughing stock because, in anticipation of the commissions that they had visualized, they had already started making big plans to spend the money abroad and initiated discussions to this end.
Below text is from the Chinnese Foreign Ministry website ( http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfaeng/xwfw665399/s2510665401/2535665405/t1188665.shtml):
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.
Check yourself who is lying.
So the Chinese Foreign Office is saying there was no such trip.... but our own is insisting that there is a 'security situation' in our country?!
And for what? To use it to play politics? Is there any department in the govt that the Sharifs are not using for their own means?