PM leaves for 4-day China visit; says visit to expand scope, depth of ties

ISLAMABAD, Apr 25 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday departed here for China on four-day
visit, mainly to attend Second Belt and Road Forum in what he said would be ‘instrumental in further expanding the scope and depth of our bilateral ties.’
Visiting at the invitation of President Xi Jinping from April 25 to 28, the
prime minister will deliver a keynote speech in the opening ceremony of
the Forum on April 26.
“I begin my visit to China today with the resolve to take our All Weather
Strategic Cooperative Partnership to newer heights,” he said in a
statement prior to his departure along with his delegation.
He said China was Pakistan’s closest friend and iron brother and he
looked forward to meet his ‘good friends President Xi and Premier Li
for an in-depth exchange of views on all issues of mutual interest.’
He said it was a matter of great satisfaction that Pakistan-China bilateral
ties were not only based on convergence of interests but were rooted in
common experiences of past and high level of mutual trust and
understanding.
He said the Pak-China friendship was ingrained in the hearts and minds
of the people that would remain unaffected by any regional and international developments. 
The prime minister thanked China for its strong and unequivocal support
to Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolved that Pakistan
would continue to stand by China on all issues of its core interest. 
He strongly endorsed China’s vision of a peaceful world based on win-win cooperation and community of shared destiny and a new model of
development, envisioned in President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative. 
He said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a flagship project
of BRI that would remain the top priority of his government. In the second
phase of CPEC, both the countries were jointly focusing on socio-economic development; job creation; livelihood projects and accelerating cooperation
in agriculture and industrial cooperation including Special Economic Zones,
he remarked.
“I am strongly committed to further strengthen Pakistan-China relationship.
I am confident that my visit will be instrumental in further expanding the scope
and depth of our bilateral ties,” he added. 
According to the Foreign Office, during his visit, the prime minister would
also attend Leaders’ Roundtable with leaders from around 38 countries.
He will speak in the first session of Leaders’ Roundtable.
He would hold meetings with several heads of state/government and
corporate and business leaders on the sidelines of Forum. 
On his agenda also include the bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping
and Premier Li Keqiang. Pakistan and China would also sign several MoUs
and agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas.
Following the Forum, the prime minister would address a Pakistan Business
and Investment Forum on April 28 to be attended by prominent Pakistani and
Chinese businessmen. 
Prime Minister Imran Khan would participate in Beijing International Horticultural Exhibition along with President Xi Jinping and other world leaders.
The Foreign Office said that Pakistan and China were “All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners”.
“Our friendship is based on mutual confidence and commonality of interests.
The two countries have always stood by each other through the tests of
time. The leadership of both countries is committed to further strengthen this friendship by enhancing mutually beneficial economic and commercial
relations,” the statement added.