Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive in Islamabad on April 20 on a two day visit. The Chinese President is visiting at the invitation of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to consolidate the existing all weather relations between the two countries even further. Xi Jinping will also address a joint session of Parliament during his visit to Pakistan. Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, governors, the chief ministers of all the provinces, heads of the armed forces of Pakistan, and diplomats will attend the joint session. The visit would be the first foreign visit of the Chinese President this year. President Xi will be conferred with the highest civil award of Pakistan, the Nishan-e-Pakistan.
Both the countries are expected to sign a number of important agreements and memorandum of understanding worth almost $50 billion, relating to key development projects in energy, communication sectors and infrastructure under the ambit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The deal to sell Pakistan eight submarines worth almost $5 billion is also expected to be signed. The two way trade between the two countries has been growing steadily for a number of years and with the upcoming agreements it will increase even further. At present the two way trade between China and Pakistan stands at $10 billion as compared to only $4 billion in 2007.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is expected to accelerate development and growth throughout Pakistan. In the words of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, ‘If ‘One Belt, One Road’ is like a symphony involving and benefiting every country, then construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the sweet melody of the symphony’s first movement.’. The proposed investment deals that are expected to be signed represent the biggest splurge on economic development in another country to date by China which shows how highly the Chinese regard Pakistan.
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