ISLAMABAD  - President Mamnoon Hussain will embark upon three-day official visit to China today (Tuesday) to further promote bilateral relations and trade ties between the two countries.
The Foreign Office Spokesperson giving details of the visit said this is his first-ever state visit abroad after assuming office of the President, and he will be the first dignitary to meet Chinese leadership after Chinese New Year celebrations (year of the horse). During the visit, President Mamnoon Hussain will hold summit-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
He will also have meetings with Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhang Dejiang, besides interacting with senior officials and government functionaries. The visit signifies another hallmark in the strengthened and growing bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.
Soon after the announcement of the historic Pakistan-China economic corridor, the two countries have started planning on implementation of infrastructure projects to concretise the gains of connectivity. This visit may be seen as a reiteration of Pakistan's commitment to establish close, cordial, cooperative and friendly ties with its long-standing strategic partner.
During the President's visit, the second meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will be convened on February 18. Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal will lead delegation to attend the meeting. The JCC will finalise and decide on the implementation of mutually agreed projects of the economic corridor.
Economic Cooperation between Pakistan and China has expanded significantly in recent years. Under a comprehensive framework Pakistan and China have bilateral economic cooperation in the form of Joint Economic Commission, Economic Cooperation Group, Joint Energy Working Group and a Joint Investment Committee, besides several other mechanisms.
Trade volume has crossed the figure of US$ 12 billion, with Pakistan's exports increasing by 48 per cent.
The visit of the President will be another milestone in the traditionally tested and ever expanding multifaceted and multidimensional relationship between the two neighbours.