ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday departed for Hangzhou in the first phase of his four-day official visit to China aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and advancing projects under CPEC Phase II.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying him during the visit.
During his stay in Hangzhou, PM Sharif will meet the Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province and participate in a business forum aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The prime minister will also attend a ceremony for the exchange of agreements and memorandums of understanding between the two countries and hold meetings with the chief executives of leading Chinese companies.
As part of the visit, PM Sharif will tour the headquarters of Alibaba, where he is expected to witness the signing of memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various sectors.
Following the Hangzhou engagements, the prime minister will travel to Beijing for meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
He will also attend an event marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and meet heads of prominent Chinese companies.
The prime minister is also scheduled to visit the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences during the trip.
Officials said the visit is expected to further strengthen Pakistan-China strategic ties and open new avenues of economic, technological and agricultural cooperation, particularly under CPEC Phase 2.
