 "Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. Image-Reuters")
High-level Meetings with Chinese Leaders
President Asif Ali Zardari will travel to China on Tuesday on a five-day state visit during which he will discuss a broad spectrum of bilateral relations with the Chinese leaders, with a focus on economic and trade cooperation, security collaboration, and the multi-billion dollar economic corridor (CPEC).
The Foreign Office said on Monday that President Zardari, who is visiting Beijing at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, will hold high-level meetings with the President, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior officials.
Emphasis on Economic and Trade Cooperation
Discussions between the leaders will focus on strengthening Pakistan-China economic ties, especially in trade and the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a crucial part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
CPEC and Regional Security
The CPEC will be a central topic, with an emphasis on enhancing security measures for Chinese workers in Pakistan, particularly as Baloch insurgent groups have targeted them. Pakistan has established a 12,000-strong para-military force for their protection.
The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan’s Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments across the world.
Thousands of Chinese personnel are working in Pakistan on several projects under the aegis of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Several Chinese workers have been killed in suicide attacks by a Baloch insurgent group, which is opposed to China’s investments in the resource-rich province.
Zardari Attends the 9th Asian Winter Games
In addition to his political discussions, President Zardari will attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, marking another aspect of the close ties between the two nations.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the visit underscores the tradition of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, reflecting the deep commitment of the two countries to strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative Partnership.
Geopolitical and Multilateral Discussions
The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global geopolitical developments and cooperation in multilateral forums. Zardari’s trip comes at a crucial time as Pakistan seeks to revitalise its economy and strengthen regional connectivity through CPEC.