PM Nawaz leaves for China on six-day visit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has left for China along with four chief ministers and several federal ministers on a six-day visit in wee hours of Friday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has invited the premier to attend the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

In the six-day visit, PM Nawaz is also scheduled to meet high-level Chinese leadership.

Sharif is accompanied by chief ministers of all four provinces, as well as Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir and IT Minister Anushay Rehman, among others.

“Pakistan is an important partner of China in promoting One Belt One Road Initiative and we believe that Prime Minister Sharif’s visit and his attendance at the forum will give a boost to our cooperation in the relevant fields,” Geo News quoted Geng Shuang — a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

On the first day of the forum, the prime minister will attend the inaugural session of the One Belt One Road Summit, a plenary meeting of high-level dialogue and the state banquet.

The prime minister will also attend leaders’ roundtable sessions scheduled to be held on the second day of the forum.

As many as 28 heads of state and government, over 50 leaders of international organizations, over 100 ministerial-level officials, as well as over 1,200 delegates from various countries and regions will participate in the forum.