Chinese President to visit Pakistan on agreed dates: Assistant Foreign Minister

Official says China will continue to maintain strategic partnership with Pakistan

CHINA: As the government anxiously waits for Chinese president Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Lui Jiancho said Xi will visit the country on agreed dates, Radio Pakistan reported on Tuesday.

The Chinese president's visit was postponed in September reportedly due to security concerns. The government blamed anti-government sit-ins in Islamabad for the delay while Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan laid the blame squarely on the government.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao, while talking to a Pakistani delegation in Beijing, said China will continue to maintain strategic partnership with Pakistan.

He said Chinese leadership is also eager to receive Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his upcoming visit to China.

Commenting on the agenda of PM Nawaz's visit, Jianchao said the two countries will sign important agreements to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Referring to Pakistan-China Economic Corridor, the Chinese assistant foreign minister said this project would help boost regional development.