Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in China Thursday night on a four-day official visit. He will return to Pakistan on April 29. The Pakistani delegation left for China this afternoon. Amendments have been made to the premier’s schedule to include new meetings. He was earlier scheduled to arrive in China on April 27. Upon arrival at Beijing, the prime minister was received by Beijing Municipal Committee of CPPCC Deputy Secretary-General Li Lifeng, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan HE Mr Yao Jing and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Masood Khalid. PM Khan will begin his official meetings on April 26, starting with meetings with Chinese government and IMF officials. He will address two sessions of the Belt and Road Forum on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Related: PM Khan to meet IMF chief on April 26 He will also meet the Pak China Friendship Association and on the sidelines, the president of Belarus. He is also scheduled to hold a private meeting with President Xi the same day. On April 27, he will be welcomed by the Chinese president at the International Conference Center. They will discuss new modes of progress and PM Khan will make a special address. He will also attend a session of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and meet the Chinese vice-president. On April 28, the premier is scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting with President Xi and expected to sign some treaties. Related: PM Imran Khan given guard of honour in Iran He is also scheduled to meet the head of Huawei. He will also attend a lunch of the Pak China Trade Investment Forum. He will also be attending a cultural show and visiting Pakistan’s stall. The premier is also scheduled to visit various automobile company headquarters and participate in a tree plantation campaign at China Garden. He will leave China at 11pm on April 28. Follow SAMAA English on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.<doc-sep>China´s President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with Pakistan´s Prime Minister Imran Khan (L) before their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 28, 2019. / AFP ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has concluded his official visit to China from 25-28 April 2019. The Prime Minister was visiting China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum (BRF) and the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing International Horticulture Exhibition 2019, the Foreign Office said in a press release on Monday. The Prime Minister delivered a keynote speech at the Opening Ceremony of the BRF on 26 April 2019. He attended a banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping for the world leaders the same evening. The Prime Minister also delivered remarks at the first session of the Leaders’ Roundtable on 27 April 2019. The theme of the Roundtable was: “Boosting Connectivity to Explore New Sources of Growth.” In his statements, the Prime Minister inter alia proposed four new areas for Belt and Road cooperation: (i) digital connectivity; (ii) mobility of labour; (iii) cultural connectivity; and (iv) sharing best practices in knowledge and innovation. The Prime Minister, accompanied by Ministers and Senior Officials delegation, separately met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on 28 April 2019. Earlier, the Prime Minister and his delegation were hosted to a banquet by Vice President Wang Qishan on the evening of 27 April 2019. During these meetings, the two sides reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations including CPEC. They reaffirmed the resolve to further strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership in all dimensions. Both sides discussed important regional and international issues, including peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and peace and stability in South Asia and agreed to deepen cooperation at the multilateral fora. Following the meeting with Premier Li, a ceremony was held to sign a number of MoUs/Agreements between the two sides, including the conclusion of the 2nd Phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement and an agreement on ML-1. On the sidelines of the BRF, the Prime Minister had meetings/interactions with other world leaders including from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Ethiopia and Kyrghyz Republic. He also held meetings with Managing Director of IMF and the CEO of the World Bank as well as corporate and business representatives attending the BRF. Another important highlight of the visit was the opening ceremony of the Beijing Horticultural Expo 2019, where the Prime Minister interacted with President Xi Jinping and other participating world leaders. The Prime Minister visited the Pakistan Pavilion set up to showcase the country’s plant biodiversity. The Horticulture Exhibition will continue over the next five months. The Prime Minister attended a luncheon hosted in his honour by the China International Cultural Communication Center and the China-Pakistan Friendship Association. On 28 April 2019, he addressed a China-Pakistan Trade and Investment Forum bringing together a large number of Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs. The Forum, which was attended by Vice Chairman of National People’s Congress Mr. Zhang Chunxian, provided a platform for the participants to explore the immense business and investment potential of Pakistan. The business-to-business meetings on the sidelines of the Forum resulted in signing of 14 agreements/contracts. The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-powered Ministerial delegation which included the Foreign Minister, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Minister for Energy, Minister for Railways, and Advisors on Commerce and Finance as well as Chairman BOI. These Ministers and Advisors represented Pakistan at the Belt and Road Thematic Forums on 25 April 2019. They also interacted with their Chinese counterparts and Ministers from the BRF participating countries. The Prime Minister’s second visit to China provided an important opportunity to exchange views with the Chinese leadership on bilateral and regional issues; to coordinate on the implementation of Phase-II of CPEC that includes industrial cooperation and socio-economic development; and to invite Chinese businessmen and investors to explore the immense potential of Pakistani market. The Prime Minister’s visit and his extensive exchange of views with the Chinese leadership, once again, affirmed the vitality of the time-tested, all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, which remains unaffected by any adverse regional and international development, and continues to move from strength to strength.<doc-sep>"China takes Pakistan as a priority in its diplomacy," Xi Jinping said. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Imran Khan in Beijing today and expressed hope that Pakistan and India could meet each other halfway improving their strained relations following the Pulwama terror attack carried out by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in South Asia. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in China for the Second Belt and Road Forum, organized to highlight the achievement of the trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) started by Xi Jinping in 2013, of which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is an important component. During today's meeting, Xi Jinping expressed China's firm committment in boosting bilateral ties with Pakistan. "Pakistan is China's strategic cooperative partner. China and Pakistan are 'iron friends and have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning core interests. China takes Pakistan as a priority in its diplomacy," he said. "No matter how international and regional situations change, China firmly supports Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and national dignity, choosing its own development path suited to its national conditions, combating terrorist and extremist forces, striving for a sound external security environment, and playing a constructive role in international and regional affairs," he added. India skipped the meeting for the second time, protesting the economic corridor which is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The meeting between the two leaders comes at a time when China is under pressure over its repeated attempts to block efforts to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. Last month, China put a technical hold on a resolution put forth by the US, the UK and France at the United Nation's counter terrorism committee to declare Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. China had expressed its firm opposition to the issue being taken to the UNSC, saying that the matter headed for settlement and blamed the US for scuttling it.<doc-sep>
BEIJING/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Beijing on Thursday night on a four-day official visit to China. Upon arrival at Beijing, the prime minister was received by Ms. Li Lifeng, Deputy Secretary-General, Beijing Municipal Committee of CPPCC, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Yao Jing and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Mr. Masood Khalid. The prime minister is visiting the country on the invitation of President Xi Jinping to attend the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Friday. This is the Pakistani premier's second visit to China since assuming office in August last year. PM Imran had earlier paid a state visit to China in November 2018. Before embarking on the visit, PM Khan said that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor would remain a priority for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government. In his statement before his departure, PM Khan said that he was beginning his visit with the resolve to take strategic cooperative partnership with China to newer heights. “China is our closest friend and ‘iron brother’. I look forward to meet my good friends President Xi and Premier Li for an in-depth exchange of views on all issues of mutual interest,” the statement quoted the PM as saying. PM Imran Khan said that Pakistan-China bilateral ties are not only based on convergence of interests but are rooted in common experiences of past and high level of mutual trust and understanding. He further said that the ties would remain unaffected by any regional and international developments. “In phase II of CPEC we are jointly focusing on socio-economic development, job creation, livelihood projects and accelerating cooperation in agriculture and industrial cooperation including Special Economic Zones,” said the premier. PM said that Pakistan will standby China on all issues of core interest, thanking the neighbouring country for its support for Pakistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. PM Imran said that the CPEC is a flagship, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. During his visit, PM Imran will also deliver a keynote speech in the opening ceremony of the forum and participate in the Leaders' Round Table and participate in events related to the Belt and Road Initiative. Belt and Road Forum provides a platform to countries participating in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for exchanging views and experiences on regional connectivity; policy synergy; socio-economic development and trade and commerce. Leaders from 40 countries and delegations from over 100 countries, international organisations and corporate sector would participate in the event. In addition to participating in the Belt and Road Forum, PM Imran will also hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Pakistan and China will also sign several MoUs and Agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, as per the statement. The prime minister will also sign the second phase of the Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and China during his visit to Beijing. Following the forum, PM Imran will attend Beijing International Horticulture Exhibition-2019 and address Pakistan Trade and Investment Conference in Beijing.