Chinese Premier gets rousing welcome as he starts Pakistan’s visit

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was accorded warm welcome as he arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday on a two-day official visit for talks on bilateral and regional matters, focusing on economic cooperation, officials said.

President Asif Ali zardari and interim Prime Minister, Mir Hazar Khan Khoso received the Chinese Premier on arrival at a military airbase near Islamabad. Three services chiefs, high level civil, military officials, diplomats and ministers were at the airbase on the occasion.

Ki Keqiang was presented a 19-gun salute and a guard of honour at the Islamabad Noor Khan Base.

It is the first visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Pakistan after becoming the Premier of China this year.

The Chinese Premier is accompanied by a high powered delegation which includes Foreign Minister Mr. Wang Yi, Mr. Gao Hucheng, Minister for Commerce and Mr. Xu Shaoshi, Chairman of National Development Reform Commission, high ranking officials and leaders of corporate sector.

The Chinese Premier will meet President Asif Ali Zardari later Wednesday who will host a luncheon for him at the Presidency.

The Chinese Premier will hold talks with the President and the Prime Minister after which there will be a joint press stakeout.

The Prime Minister will host a banquet for the Chinese Premier in the evening. The Chinese Premier will also be conferred upon the highest award of Pakistan’s highest civil award “Nishan-e-Pakistan”.

Besides having bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister, Premier Li Keqiang will hold a joint meeting with the Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly and also address the Senate of Pakistan. Leaders of the political parties will also meet the Chinese Premier, the Foreign Ministry said.

On 23rd May, President of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif will call on him.

Many important Agreements and MoUs in the fields of economy, Science and Technology, Space & Upper Atmosphere communication and energy would be signed during the visit of the Chinese Premier, the Foreign Ministry says.

All these and other agreements are aimed at further strengthening our bilateral relations and improving the well being of the two people, the Foreign Ministry said.

Premier Li Keqiang will also visit the Pakistan-China friendship Centre along-with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and meet with Pakistani friends who have played a role in promoting Pakistan-China relations. He will also plant a tree at Islamabad’s scenic spot Shakarparian.

“The visit takes place immediately after the democratic elections in Pakistan. It will provide an opportunity to Premier Li to meet the new political leadership in Pakistan,” a Foreign ministry statement says.

“Premier Li Keqiang’s visit will also provide further impetus to our strategic cooperation. The friendly ties and the friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy,” it said.

“Pakistan and China are “all weather” friends. Their traditional and friendly cooperative ties are based on shared principles and mutual interests entailing cooperation in diverse fields,” the Foreign Ministry said.

“Both countries hold identical views on important world issues and cooperate at international forums. At the popular level in both countries, there is strong resonance of the long and rich history of close and cordial ties”.

Economic cooperation between Pakistan and China has expanded significantly in recent years. The bilateral trade between Pakistan and China in 2012 crossed the figure of US$ 12 billion for the first time. Both sides are committed to achieve a trade target of US$ 15 billion in the next two-three years.

Several major energy and infrastructure development projects are being executed in Pakistan with Chinese assistance. More than 120 Chinese companies are engaged in economic activity in Pakistan and Chinese investment reached the figure of US $ 2 billion by 2012.

Premier Li Keqiang’s visit will mark yet another important step forward in reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two countries and open up new avenues for bilateral cooperation, the Foreign Ministry said.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=40325

Posted by Tahir Khan on May 22 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.