Maryam reaches China on eight-day visit

LAHORE: Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Beijing on Sunday evening to undertake her eight-day China visit as the first female chief minister of Punjab.

She was accorded a warm reception at the Beijing airport and was presented a bouquet. Six senior officials of the Communist Party of China were present at the airport to welcome her. Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi and his wife also welcomed her at the airport.

A high-level delegation of the Communist Party of China called on CM Punjab later on. Head of the Chinese delegation, Lin Tao, welcomed CM Maryam Nawaz and her delegation upon their arrival.

The CM said, “Pak-China friendship is moving toward greater heights. We want to take Punjab to economic and financial heights with the cooperation of China. On behalf of the Punjab government and the people of Punjab, I would like to extend my gratitude to the people of China.”

Deputy Director General of the Communist Party of China Lin Tao, Consular South Asian Affairs Mrs Li Zhenyao, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Southeast Chen Zhenbo, South Asian Affairs Attaché Seng Guoyu, and Miss Chen Yubo and Miss Zhou Chenyu accorded her a warm reception. Other officers of the Pakistan’s embassy were also present at the airport. Senator Pervez Rashid, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, provincial ministers Bilal Akbar, Ashiq Kirmani and others accompanied her.

The official engagements of CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s eight-day visit will commence on Monday (today). She will pay a visit to hospitals, schools and other institutions in China.

The CM will visit Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou and meet Chinese ministers, high-ranking officials and experts. She will also attend various meetings, events and conferences in China. She has been invited to visit China by the ruling Communist Party of China.

Earlier, before leaving for China, the chief minister paid tribute to six martyred security personnel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and offered heartfelt sympathies and condolence to the bereaved families. She said, “The great sacrifices of martyrs will definitely bear fruit and the whole nation is united for eliminating the scourge of terrorism from our dear homeland.”

Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz expressed a deep sense of grief over the demise of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s sister. She extended her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.