Bound for Beijing: PM to visit China next month to ink $34 billion deals

Premier invited to attend Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit China in the first week of November on the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The invite was delivered by Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong who called on the prime minister on Friday.

According to officials, the two countries are expected to sign agreements worth $34 billion during the visit. The prime minister expressed his gratitude upon receiving President Xi’s invitation and said that he looks forward to the Chinese president’s visit to Pakistan at the earliest, says an official handout.



The Chinese envoy said President Xi welcomed Nawaz to attend the host-partners dialogue to be held during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) informal leaders’ meeting in Beijing next month and looks forward to visiting Pakistan at an early and mutually convenient date.

Ambassador Sun and the premier discussed matters of mutual interest and the latter spoke highly of the recent progress in Pakistan-China relations. He appreciated the timely support and assistance rendered by the Chinese government for the relief of IDPs as well as flood-affected people.

The prime minister stressed that Pakistan firmly supports China’s core interests and major concerns and is ready to work with China to keep building mutual trust, fast-tracking the construction of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor and upgrading the bilateral cooperation.

China wishes to maintain close coordination and collaboration with Pakistan to create a safe and sound environment for bilateral relations as well as for the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, the Chinese ambassador said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 18^th, 2014.