PM Imran Khan arrives in China on crucial visit

 BEIJING: Prime Minister Imran Khan reached Beijing  on Tuesday morning to hold meetings with the Chinese leadership.

Upon arrival in Beijing, the prime minister was received by Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang, Pakistan's  ambassador to China Naghmana Hashmi  and other officials.

Imran Khan is accompanied by a high-level delegation including foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, minister for planning, development and reform Khusro Bakhtiar,  Board of Investment (BoI) Chairman Zubair Gilani and senior officials.

During his visit, PM Imran will meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Both Chinese leaders will separately host banquets in honour of the Prime Minister. A number of agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed at a ceremony to be witnessed by the two Prime Ministers.

CPEC

PM Imran  would discuss expansion of projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and cooperation in the agriculture, industrial and socio-economic sectors.

Imran Khan, last week, said that the removal of all bottlenecks in CPEC projects and their timely completion was the top priority of the government.

FTA

It is learnt that the two sides will also discuss the "immediate implementation" of the second phase of the China-Pakistan free trade agreement (FTA). 

The federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar on Sunday said Pakistan would engage China at the highest level for talks on several big projects in the fields of hydropower, oil refinery and steel mills.

China Pakistan Business Forum

The premier is also expected to address the China Pakistan Business Forum in Beijing and to meet with Chinese entrepreneurs as well as the heads of different companies.

Army Chief General Bajwa

The Chief of Army Staff, who had reached China a few hours before the premier, will join the prime minister during his meetings with Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping.

The army chief is scheduled to meet the Chinese military leadership including the Peoples Liberation Army commander, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and commander Southern Theater Command.