By Our Diplomatic
Correspondent
BEIJING: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday arrived in China on a two-day official visit to attend the second round of Pakistan-China foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue.
According to details, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was welcomed by the top officials of the host country’s foreign office department and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque at the Hainan airport.
Besides leading the Pakistani delegation during the second round of Pakistan-China foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue, the foreign minister would also meet the top leadership of China.
Issues of mutual interest, bilateral cooperation, the phase-II of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and regional security will come under discussion in these meetings. It is noteworthy that the first Pakistan-China foreign ministers’ strategic dialogue had taken place in March. Shah Mahmood Qureshi will also deliberate Chinese President Xi Jinping’s likely visit to Islamabad in meetings with Chinese leaders, they said.
Earlier, diplomatic sources had said that dates are being finalised for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Pakistan.
It is expected that the Chinese president will make announcements for further investment plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, said the sources, adding that he is also likely to address the parliament during his visit.
In February, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that the Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan, whereas, some sources claimed that the visit was likely in June this year. Prime Minister Imran Khan had invited President Xi Jinping to visit Pakistan last year in October.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Thursday departed here for two-day visit (August 20-21) to China for participating in the Second Round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Accompanied by senior officials, the foreign minister would lead Pakistani side in the Dialogue to be held in Hainan, China while Chinese side would be led by State Councilor and Foreign Minster Wang Yi. The first meeting of the Dialogue was held in March last year, a Foreign Office press release said. During the Dialogue, both sides will, inter alia, discuss cooperation on COVID-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest.The Foreign Office spokesperson said that the visit would play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues. Pakistan and China are the closest friends and staunch partners. Their time-tested friendship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding and commonality of interests. Both sides are fully committed to building closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future. Prior to his departure, the foreign minister said in a video message that he had discussed the visit with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday. He hoped that during the visit, the delegation would reflect the thinking of Pakistan’s political and military leadership.The foreign minister also hoped that his scheduled meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi would prove to be productive for both the countries.
Moreover, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has left for a two-day visit to China to attend the second round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, a statement from the Foreign Office said on Thursday.
In a video message released before his departure, the foreign minister said he was going on a “very important trip to China” and that he had a discussion with Prime Minister Imran Khan before leaving. “I am leaving on a very important visit to China. I had a discussion with the prime minister regarding this visit yesterday. My delegation will represent the stance of the political and military leadership of the country. I am hopeful that my meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi will prove to be beneficial for both countries,” Qureshi said.
Qureshi, who is accompanied by senior officials, will visit China’s Hainan province where he will lead the Pakistani delegation in the dialogue, the FO statement added. He is scheduled to return tomorrow (Aug 21).
State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead the Chinese side during the dialogue, according to the statement. “During the dialogue, both sides will discuss cooperation on Covid-19, bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest,” the FO said. “This time the strategic dialogue is highly relevant and the two sides will take the opportunity to discuss anti-epidemic cooperation, bilateral ties and other regional and international issues of mutual interest,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian announced at the regular ministry briefing.
