ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif has left for China to attend the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation beginning in Beijing on Sunday.
He is accompanied by a high level delegation including four chief ministers and federal ministers, Minister of State Anusha Rahman and Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
The prime minister will attend the inaugural session of the summit and the plenary meeting of high-level dialogue and the state banquet.
He will also attend the leaders’ roundtable sessions on second day of the forum.
Nawaz will also hold meetings with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang to further promote bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.
Many agreements are expected to be signed in connection with China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the visit.
He is also expected to meet world leaders on the sidelines of Belt and Road Forum. He will participate in an investment conference and meet with business and corporate leaders. The prime minister will also visit Hangzhou and Hong Kong.
The Belt and Road Forum (BRF) is part of the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” (OBOR) initiative launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013. The BRF is being attended by 27 other heads of state/government. The forum is aimed at promoting common development through win-win cooperation. CPEC is the flagship program of OBOR.
The BRF will comprise a High Level Dialogue and Leaders’ Roundtable. The prime minister will address the high level dialogue as well as both the sessions of Leader’s Roundtable. A joint communiqué will be issued at the conclusion of the BRF. The prime minister will be one of the three leaders to speak at the concluding session.
Besides attending the BRF, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
A number of agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) related to CPEC projects are also expected to be signed on the occasion. Nawaz will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines with several other heads of state/ government attending the forum. During his stay in China, the prime minister will also visit Hangzhou and Hong Kong where he will interact with business leaders and attend investment conferences.
