FM Qureshi arrives in China for two-day trip

• Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be accompanied by senior officials during the two-day trip.
• Pakistan’s top diplomat to focus on “further deepening of bilateral relations” and CPEC during the visit.
• The visit comes as Pakistan and China celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in China for a two-day visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, said the Foreign Office in a statement on Friday.

He was greeted at the Chengdu airport by senior officials of the Chinese foreign ministry.

Tomorrow, the foreign minister will participate in bilateral talks between delegations of both countries.

After the talks, the foreign ministers of the two countries will address a joint press conference.

In a video message before leaving for China, the foreign minister said: "The Pak-China friendship, which has entered the seventh decade, is emerging as a strong strategic partnership."

The foreign minister said that during his visit he would discuss a bilateral strategic agenda with his Chinese counterpart. He said the two sides would also exchange views on the situation in Afghanistan and the region.

"A detailed meeting would be held on the progress made so far on the projects related to China Pakistan Economic Corridor and its future strategy," said Qureshi. 

Earlier, the FO had issued a statement with details about the foreign minister's visit to China.

“On the invitation of the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will visit China from 23-24 July,” read the statement issued before his departure. It added that the foreign minister will be accompanied by senior officials.

Pakistan’s top diplomat, during the visit, will focus on “further deepening of bilateral relations”, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), defence and security cooperation, COVID-19 vaccines, counter-terrorism and regional and international issues.

There was no mention in the statement of the Dasu incident in which nine Chinese nationals were killed after which Prime Minster Imran Khan had directed the interior and foreign ministers to visit China.

The FO said that Qureshi’s visit would play an important role in further strengthening Islamabad and Beijing’s “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership”, and will expand the “strategic communication and coordination” of Pakistan with China on various issues.

The visit comes as Pakistan and China celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The FO said that over 100 events had been planned out of which more than 60 events have already been held.

“These celebrations have immensely contributed to injecting a fresh vigour and warmth in the traditional friendship,” said the statement.

The FO reiterated that Pakistan and China are the closest of friends and staunch partners, adding that the time-tested relationship is “based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding and commonality of interests”.

It also said that both sides are fully committed to building a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future.