Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Islamabad for SCO, bilateral meetings

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday on a four-day bilateral visit, during which he will also attend the Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), scheduled on October 15 and 16.

The Premier of the State Council of China is undertaking a bilateral visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement.

Upon his arrival, the Chinese guest was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz at Rawalpindi’s Noor Khan Airbase and welcomed with a 21-gun salute.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and other top government and Chinse embassy officials were also present on the occasion.

Qiang’s visit to Pakistan is the first by any Chinese premier in 11 years, with the last one by Li Keqiang in May 2013.

During his visit, the Chinese Premier will call on President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders and senior military leadership of Pakistan. Premier Li is accompanied by Ministers and senior officials including from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency,” the Foreign Office said.

Welcoming the Chinese premier, PM Shehbez on X wrote, Delighted to welcome H.E. Mr. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of People’s Republic of China, to Islamabad!”

PM Shehbaz, in a message, said, Looking forward to a historic & productive visit by my brother that will further strengthen and deepen our friendship.

“We will review progress on existing initiatives, especially CPEC, and also explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation. Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership is a cornerstone of regional stability & prosperity,” he wrote on X.

Prime Minister Shehbaz and Premier Li Qiang will lead their respective delegations to comprehensively discuss all aspects of Pakistan-China relations including economic and trade ties and cooperation under CPEC. The two sides will also discuss regional and global developments, the press statement read.

FO termed Premier Li’s visit to Islamabad, an expression of the importance attached by Pakistan and China to their “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership”.

“It will be an occasion for the two sides to reaffirm mutual support on issues of core interest; advance the high-quality development of CPEC; and reinforce regular exchanges on important regional and global developments,” it added.