Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reached China's city of Shenzhen on a five-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
He is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Energy Minister Musadik Malik and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Also travelling with the PM are the foreign secretary, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and other senior officials.
Upon landing in Shenzhen, Shehbaz wrote on X, "Looking forward to my engagements with the provincial authorities, business community and industry giants here before proceeding to Beijing for official talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other Chinese leaders and high officials."
During the three-segment trip, the premier will visit the cities of Xi’an and Shenzhen, besides Beijing.
He will meet President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang in Beijing. He will also hold meetings with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Zhao Leji, and heads of key government departments.
Prior to departure, a special meeting was held at Lahore airport, chaired by the prime minister, to deliberate on the agenda and objectives of the visit. During this meeting, the PM received a detailed briefing on the trip.
Before leaving for China, federal minister Ahsan Iqbal issued a video statement, saying that a large number of Pakistani and Chinese companies would be participating in the business forum to be held on June 5 in Shenzhen. During the forum, MoUs and agreements for cooperation and partnership between Pakistan and Chinese companies will be signed.
He claimed that partnerships between Chinese and Pakistani companies in the second phase of CPEC would increase investment and exports in Pakistan.
The primary focus of the visit is on enhancing bilateral economic relations and fostering business-to-business collaborations. For the first time, a large number of investors and industrialists from 79 Pakistani companies have also reached China to participate in a business-to-business conference in Shenzhen. They will engage with their Chinese counterparts, exploring opportunities for mutual growth and cooperation.
Prime Minister Sharif will also hold a discussion after participating in the forum.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that PM Sharif is scheduled to meet with both the Chinese president and prime minister. These high-level meetings are expected to cover a range of topics, including strategic partnerships, economic projects, and regional cooperation.
The PM will also hold meetings for promotion in various commercial sectors and meet the officials of various Chinese companies in oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies sectors.
During his visit to Shenzhen, Shehbaz will also tour several modern IT companies, economic and agricultural zones, underscoring Pakistan's interest in advancing its technological infrastructure and capabilities. The delegation's itinerary includes visits to innovative hubs, aiming to draw inspiration and explore collaborative ventures in the technology sector.
The two sides will discuss further upgrading of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and advance trade and investment. The talks will be held to enhance cooperation in security and defence, energy, space, science and technology, and education sectors.
