ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has embarked on a 10-day visit to China to hold discussions with the Chinese leadership on enhancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Zardari's office said on Friday.
The visit is taking place days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official trip to China last week, where Islamabad signed investment agreements and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion with Beijing.
Zardari's trip from Sept. 12-21 would include visits to Chengdu and Shanghai cities, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region where he will meet Chinese provincial leaders, according to the Pakistani foreign office.
“The discussions will encompass Pakistan-China bilateral relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation, CPEC and future connectivity initiatives,” it said in a statement.
Pakistan views China as an important investment partner and strategic ally, which has funneled billions of dollars into the country under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy and infrastructure project for over a decade.
The foreign office said Zardari’s visit would reaffirm both countries’ support over core interests, advance economic and trade ties and underscore their commitment to regional peace.
China is its largest trading partner, with bilateral trade topping $25 billion in recent years. Chinese firms have invested heavily in Pakistan in power, transport, infrastructure and telecoms projects under the multi-billion-dollar CPEC.
