Chinese premier Li arrives in Pakistan for bilateral visit, SCO summit

On Monday, Pakistan welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang with great ceremony as he arrived at Nur Khan Airbase for an important four-day bilateral visit and a significant heads-of-government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) this week.

Li Qiang was warmly received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. A grand guard of honor was presented by a contingent of Pakistan’s armed forces.

It’s been 11 years since Chinese Premier Li last visited Pakistan.

In their discussions, Premier Li and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will focus on enhancing economic and trade relationships and furthering cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is part of a $65 billion investment in Pakistan as a part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.