ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China will serve as an opportunity for both countries to make “greater progress” in their all-weather strategic, cooperative partnership, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday.
Pakistan’s foreign office announced on Friday that Sharif would be visiting China from June 4 till June 8 on an invitation extended to him by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese investment and financial support since 2013 have been key for the South Asian nation’s struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans so that Islamabad is able to meet external financing needs at a time its foreign reserves are critically low.
Sharif’s visit will seek to upgrade cooperation under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“China and Pakistan have in recent years had close high-level exchanges, steadily advanced practical cooperation, conducted fruitful and high-quality cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and maintained sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Friday.
“China stands ready to work with Pakistan through this visit to make greater progress in our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and take new steps in the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”
China has invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan under the $65 billion CPEC plan, but the implementation of various projects has slowed in recent months.
During his visit, Sharif will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji.
“The leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest, and jointly draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations,” Mao said.
On Friday, Sharif asked Pakistani officials to carve out a “comprehensive plan” for business-to-business (B2B) engagements during his visit to China, which comes at a time when Pakistan is looking to boost foreign investment to support its fragile economy after averting a default last year, thanks to a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.
“An important aspect of the PM’s visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing in oil and gas, energy, ICT [information and communication technology], and emerging technologies,” Pakistani foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
The security of Chinese interests is another issue that is likely to top the agenda during Sharif’s visit as Chinese citizens and interests have been regularly attacked by militants in Pakistan.
Most recently, five Chinese engineers, who were working on a dam in northwest Pakistan, were killed in a suicide bombing in March.
Beijing has pressed Pakistan to guarantee the safety of Chinese organizations and personnel working there. The announcement of Sharif’s visit comes days after Pakistan announced it had arrested 11 militants involved in the bombing.
Islamabad has said the militants operate out of Afghanistan, but Kabul has rejected the charges.
 

LONDON: England all-rounder Liam Livingstone believes the “extra edge” provided by fast bowlers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood will bolster the side’s chance when they begin their T20 World Cup defense in Barbados next week.
The two out-and-out quicks were reunited for the first time in The Oval on Thursday, with both Archer and Wood playing their part as England won by seven wickets to seal a 2-0 T20 series victory over Pakistan.
Archer made the key breakthrough to dismiss in-form Pakistan captain Babar Azam for 36, sparking a collapse that saw the tourists slump from 59-0 to 157 all out.
And Wood, timed at a rapid 96 mph (154 kph) in his first spell, returned to produce two searing bouncers that captured the wickets of Azam Khan and Naseem Shah.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Livingston struck twice in an over before England’s top order spent time in the middle, with captain Jos Buttler (39) and Phil Salt (45) looking in especially fine touch.
“A 2-0 victory going into the World Cup is great,” said Livingstone after England won the only two matches of a four-game series where any cricket was possible following washouts in Leeds and Cardiff.
“I think what was better was what we actually got out of that, especially having Jof and Woody gives us that sort of extra edge that we haven’t had before, which is pretty cool.”
Injuries have blighted the careers of both Archer and Wood, but the 30-year-old Livingstone added: “Any team that has them, before you even start the game you feel like you’re one step ahead.
“We know pace can work one of two ways: it can get you wickets and it can go for runs. They’re not always just going to blow teams away but I think having those two is a pretty big weapon and CJ (Chris Jordan) has been bowling beautifully as well.”
England will hope their renewed confidence is justified following a miserable defense of their 50-over World Cup title in India last year, which led to questions being raised over the positions of skipper Buttler and white-ball coach Matthew Mott.
But the England hierarchy kept faith with the duo, who had some credit in the bank after steering the team to glory at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, with Livingstone insisting: “I think we’re in a much better place than we were six months ago, which is pretty exciting for all of us.”
Livingstone, meanwhile, said he was finally free of pain after struggling with a longstanding knee injury.
“It’s not been the most enjoyable 18 months of trying to play with a niggle,” he said.
“It kind of drains your spirit, drains your enjoyment of cricket,” added Livingstone, who revealed he had been in low spirits at at the end of the Indian Premier League.
But an injection appears to have done the trick for his knee and revived Livingstone’s morale.
“It’s much better,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got a smile on my face and that’s all that really matters to me.”