PM Kakar arrives in China to participate in 3rd BRI forum

BEIJING: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Monday arrived here to participate in the 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation.At the airport, he was warmly received by Chinese Minister of Science & Technology Wang Zhigang, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Moin-ul-Haq, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release, APP reports.

The prime minister is undertaking the visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He is accompanied by a high-level delegation including members of the cabinet and senior government officials.

He would will attend the opening ceremony of the BRF and address the high-level forum titled “Connectivity in an Open Global Economy” to be held on October 18. The caretaker prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Li Xi, member of the Standing Committee of Politburo of CPC Central Committee.

The leaders will discuss all facets of bilateral relations, with particular focus on strengthening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. They will exchange views on major regional and global developments.

The prime minister will also meet other leaders of the countries participating in the BRF. He will also meet leading Chinese entrepreneurs and preside over an interactive roundtable on CPEC to explore new avenues for strengthening trade and investment ties between Pakistan and China.

To further strengthen regional connectivity, trade, investment and people-to-people contacts between the neighbouring regions of Pakistan and China, Prime Minister Kakar will pay a two-day visit to Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

In Urumqi, he will meet the local leadership and business persons, and deliver a speech at the Xinjiang University. The visit of the prime minister comes in the backdrop of ongoing celebrations marking the 10 years of CPEC.

Meanwhile, the Global Times China published an article penned by the caretaker prime minister in which he expressed Pakistan’s commitment to jointly building the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, saying the project had transformed the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan.

“The CPEC has transformed the socio-economic landscape of Pakistan, upgrading modern infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity, ensuring energy security, and creating jobs,” he wrote. “We fully endorse China’s proposal of developing the CPEC as a corridor of growth, livelihood, innovation, greenness, and openness - representing our two countries’ preference for a human-centric approach, inclusivity, and green development,” he said.

The prime minister said Pakistan and China as close friends, strategic partners, and iron brothers, were moving forward toward a destiny of shared future.

In a statement on X, Kakar has asked the chief ministers to cut the prices of essential commodities and services after substantial reduction in fuel prices.

“All efforts should be directed towards transferring the benefit of reduction in petroleum prices to the people of Pakistan,” he wrote and emphasized strict implementation of this directive.

Muhammad Anis from Islamabad adds: Meanwhile, Kakar Monday condemned Israel’s deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and called for an immediate ceasefire and lifting of the blockade in Gaza.

In a tweet, the prime minister said Israel’s deliberate, indiscriminate and disproportionate targeting of civilians was against all norms of civility and in manifest violation of international law.

He expressed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. “Pakistan is deeply concerned over the ongoing violence and loss of life in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire and lifting of the blockade in Gaza. Israel’s deliberate, indiscriminate and disproportionate targeting of civilians in Gaza is against all norms of civility and in manifest violation of international law,” the prime minister said.

He said the breakout of violence needs to be seen in the context of years of forced and illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and repressive policies against its people. The prime minister said the United Nations and international community must immediately act to open safe and unrestricted humanitarian corridors for transportation of urgently needed relief supplies to the besieged Gaza.

He said Pakistan was closely coordinating with the OIC and its member states on the fast deteriorating situation in Gaza. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani will attend the emergency meeting of the OIC’s Executive Committee on Wednesday, and has called for urgent action to alleviate the suffering of Gazans.