Islamabad, May 31 (EFE).- The Pakistani foreign ministry announced Friday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would visit China next week, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, during a trip primarily centered on economic matters.
“An important aspect of the Prime Minister’s visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing in oil and gas, energy, (information and communications technology) ICT, and emerging technologies,” the ministry said in a statement.
Sharif will also hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, Li Qiang, chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, and heads of key government departments.
The two sides will examine ways to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a multimillion-dollar infrastructure project financed by Beijing, and enhance cooperation in several fields, including security and defense, energy, space, science and technology, and education.
In recent years, insurgent attacks against Chinese citizens in Pakistan have caused tension between the two nations amid Beijing’s calls for heightened security measures.
Pakistan is grappling with a severe financial crisis, facing approximately $77.5 billion in foreign debt over the next three years, primarily owed to Chinese financial institutions and Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad is trying to obtain a new bailout from the International Monetary Fund after receiving a $3 billion loan in April. EFE
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