PM to leave for China on four-day official visit today

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan will leave for China on a four-day official visit on Thursday (today). He is paying the visit at the invitation of President Xi Jinping to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Friday. The prime minister will deliver a keynote speech in the opening ceremony of the Forum and participate in the Leaders’ Round Table. He will also participate in different other events related to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Forum provides a platform to countries participating in Belt and Road Initiative for exchanging views and experiences on regional connectivity, policy synergy, socio-economic development and trade and commerce. Leaders from forty countries and delegations from over 100 countries, international organizations and corporate sector would participate in the event. The premier, who will be accompanied by a ministerial delegation, will also hold meetings with several Heads of State, government and corporate and business leaders. Another prominent feature of Imran Khan's visit to Beijing will be the signing of the second phase of Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and China. Special measures are being contemplated under the agreement to safeguard interests of the Pakistani industries while promoting trade with China. Several other agreements and MoUs are also expected to be signed during the visit to further boost cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields. PM Khan will also hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. The Prime Minister will also attend Beijing International Horticulture Exhibition-2019 and address Pakistan Trade and Investment Conference in Beijing. This will be the second visit of the prime minister to China. He had earlier paid a state visit to China in November last year. “Pakistan wants no loss be caused to Pakistan from Iran. Difference emerged between us due to terrorism. I have come to end those differences,” he said. The prime minister said that progress of the region lies only in peace. “The Indian forces cannot suppress the voice of Kashmiris by committing atrocities. We are bringing about a revolution in Pakistan, which is ‘Naya Pakistan’” he declared. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that both sides had agreed on joint efforts against terrorism. “We will take all steps to complete the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project,” he said. The Iranian president said that unfortunately they witnessed some tensions in the border areas in the recent past where the terrorists perpetrated their nefarious acts. “Both the sides during talks reaffirmed their commitment to peace and security in the whole region.”