By Imran Nasir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will depart on his first visit to China on Saturday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

In a statement, issued by the Foreign Ministry, said this would be Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s first bilateral visit abroad since assuming office last month. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and senior officials will be part of the Foreign Minister’s delegation.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister will hold extensive consultations with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on stronger trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and China. Fast-tracked progress on the transformational China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, flagship project of President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative, will also feature in the discussions. The two sides will also have wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit will also coincide with the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

State Councilor Wang Yi had written a letter of congratulations to Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on his assumption of the office of Foreign Minister. The two Foreign Ministers had previously held a virtual meeting on 11 May 2022.

The Foreign Minister’s visit is part of the high-level exchanges between the two sides, which recently also included message of felicitations to the Prime Minister from Premier Li Keqiang, and telephone conversation between the two Premiers on 16 May 2022.

The Foreign Minister’s visit will contribute towards further fortifying the time- tested All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China, enhance and deepen CPEC-related engagement, and help in identifying new avenues for bilateral cooperation to the benefit of the two countries and peoples.

Islamabad
20 May 2022