ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit China in May this year to participate in the ‘Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF)’, to be held in Beijing from May 14 to 15.
“I look forward to my visit to China in May 2017 to participate in the “Belt and Road Forum” for International Cooperation (BRF) at the invitation of President Xi Jinping”, Nawaz said in a meeting with the Executive Vice Foreign Minister of China Yesui Zhang in Islamabad on Tuesday.
The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the leadership and brotherly people of the People’s Republic of China for their all-weather support that is getting stronger with each passing day.
Sharif thanked the Chinese government for their continued support on the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267 Committee.
The prime minister said that Pakistan and China are iron brothers and friendship with China is the cornerstone of our foreign policy. He appreciated China’s diplomatic and material support to Pakistan in its fight against terrorism.
Moreover, Nawaz Sharif said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a game changer which will transform the lives of the billions of people of the region.
The prime minister also welcomed participation of the Executive Vice Foreign Minister as a Representative of the Government of People’s Republic of China in the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit on special invitation.
Nawaz Sharif said that the theme of the ECO Summit is “Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” which is convergent with China’s One-Belt-One-Road and with our bilateral flagship initiative, China Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said that it would provide us an opportunity to emphasize the strategic benefits of CPEC for the ECO region and beyond.