Chinese Premier Li Qiang lands in Islamabad on four-day visit

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday arrived in Rawalpindi for a four-day visit to Pakistan, during which he will engage in discussions on a range of mutual interests with Pakistani officials.

The Chinese dignitary is visiting Pakistan — ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit — on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and will stay here from October 14-17.

In a statement after arrival, the premier said: “As soon as I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with the warm hospitality of the Pakistani side and impressed by the profound brotherly friendship between our peoples.”

“On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I wish to convey cordial greetings and best wishes to the friendly Pakistani government and people.”

He mentioned that Pakistan is an important developing country, an emerging market, and a major Muslim country. It is also, he said, China’s all-weather strategic cooperative partner and an ironclad friend.

“China is now further deepening reform comprehensively and advancing Chinese modernisation on all fronts through high-quality development. Pakistan is also committed to its reform and development endeavour,” added PM Li.

Earlier, expanding on the Chinese PM’s visit, the FO had said that the dignitary and his counterpart PM Shehbaz will lead respective delegations to comprehensively discuss all aspects of Pakistan-China relations including economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC).

Expanding on the Chinese PM’s visit, the FO said that the dignitary and his counterpart PM Shehbaz will lead respective delegations to comprehensively discuss all aspects of Pakistan-China relations including economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Cooperation (CPEC).

The Chinese premier would also call on President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders and the country’s senior military leadership.

PM Li’s visit comes as several top foreign leaders will be convening in Islamabad for the Heads of Government meeting — the supreme decision-making body of the SCO which meets once a year and decides upon all the important issues of the organisation.

The dignitaries set to attend the SCO moot include Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar — the first visit by an Indian FM in nearly a decade.

The high-level moot will be held with strict security measures in place as the government has announced a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, with schools and businesses shut, and large contingents of police and paramilitary forces deployed.

Pakistan Army troops will be responsible for the security of the capital’s Red Zone, which will house most of the meetings and is also home to parliament and a diplomatic enclave, according to the interior ministry.