PM Imran embarks on third official visit to China – Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan went to China on Monday for an official visit to discuss issues of regional and bilateral importance with Chinese leaders, Pakistan Radio reported.

He will meet separately with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

According to a statement from the Office of Foreign Affairs (FO), the prime minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Minister of Railways, Sheikh Rashid, the Minister of Planning, Development and Reforma, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar and others.

According to the state radio service, the prime minister will discuss the expansion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and cooperation in the agricultural, industrial and socio-economic sectors.

Last week, Prime Minister Imran said that the elimination of all bottlenecks in CPEC projects and their timely completion was the top priority of the government.

Amid a perceived slowdown in CPEC, federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reform, Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, said Sunday that Pakistan would involve China at the highest level for talks on several large projects in the fields of hydroelectric power, refinery of oil and steelworks.

During the visit of the Prime Minister, the two sides will discuss the "immediate implementation" of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They will also discuss the abolition of the quota for all agricultural products in Pakistan, Pakistan Radio additional.

The prime minister is also expected to address the China Pakistan Business Forum in Beijing and meet with Chinese businessmen and the heads of different companies, Pakistan Radio reported.

This is the third visit of the prime minister to China in less than a year.

In April, he visited Beijing to attend the second Belt and Road Forum and to talk with Chinese leaders about the expanded CPEC. His first official visit was in November last year.

Army chief in China

Before the departure of the prime minister, the chief of the Army General Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa, arrived in China on an official visit, the army media wing said.

The army chief will meet with the Chinese military leadership, including the commander of the People's Liberation Army, the vice president of the Central Military Commission and the commander of the Southern Theater Command.

He will also join Prime Minister Imran's meetings with Chinese Prime Minister and President Xi, public relations between services said.