Chinese Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan on Thursday

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Pakistan on Thursday to hold talks and review all aspects of their strategic and time-tested relations, foreign office said today.
The two-day visit, starting on February 12, comes after the reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan next month to participate as chief guest on Pakistan Day parade on March 23.
During the visit, Wang, who will lead an eight-member delegation, would hold delegation-level talks with Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, the foreign office said.
He will also call on President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

"Pakistan and China would review and further consolidate all aspects of the bilateral relationship, with a special focus on political, strategic and economic cooperation," foreign office said.
"The visit would also afford an opportunity to both sides to have a free and frank exchange of views on regional and global developments of mutual interest," it said.

According to the foreign office, Pakistan attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with China.
Such high-level visits are a regular feature of the time-tested and unshakable bonds of friendship between the governments and peoples of Pakistan and China, it said.
During the visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad would also co-host the Launching Ceremony of Pakistan-China 'Year of Friendly Exchanges'.

Wang's visit to Pakistan was scheduled for yesterday but was postponed for unknown reasons.
President Xi's visit to Pakistan is due since he cancelled his scheduled tour to Islamabad last September due to security concerns in the midst of political protests held by cricketer- turned-politician Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf party.
It was the first time that a Chinese leader put off a visit to Pakistan.