Chinese President Xi set to visit Pakistan next week

Islamabad, April 1

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan next week to deepen economic and strategic ties between the two all-weather allies, a senior official said today.

Xi was to visit Pakistan last year during his South Asia trip to India, Sri Lankan and the Maldives but postponed it due to political unrest in the country with opposition leader Imran Khan staging a protest in Islamabad for alleged rigging in 2013 polls that were won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

A government official said that the Chinese leader would be in Pakistan around April 10.

"He would hold high-level meetings and unveil several economic projects," the official said.

Xi is also expected to address the joint session of the Parliament, the official said.

There are over two dozen MoUs and agreements regarding nuclear power, the Gwadar port, the Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC), energy, trade and investment that are likely to be signed.

Pakistan Foreign Office had earlier confirmed that the visit of the Chinese leader will take place this year but had not given the exact dates.

Xi was expected to attend the Pakistan National Day parade on March 23 as a special guest but could not undertake the trip due to some domestic engagements.

Pakistani and Chinese leaders over the years have pledged robust cooperation in several fields and described their relationship as an "all-weather" friendship. PTI