Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived here on Friday to participate in the One Belt, One Road Forum, aimed at the regional development through win-win cooperation.
Senior government officials received the prime minister-led Pakistan delegation at the Beijing International Airport. Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khalid was also present. A contingent of static guard presented salute to the prime minister as he alighted from his special aircraft.
Two children, clad in traditional dresses, presented bouquets to the prime minister and his spouse. The prime minister’s entourage included four chief ministers including Shahbaz Sharif, Pervaiz Khattak, Sanaullah Zehri and Murad Ali Shah.
Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar, Minister for Railways Saad Rafique, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir, State Minister for Information Technology Anousha Rehman and Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz also accompanied the prime minister.
China has championed what China formally calls the “One Belt, One Road” or OBOR initiative to build a new Silk Road linking Asia, Africa and Europe, a landmark programme to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure projects including railways, ports and power grids. China has dedicated $40 billion to a Silk Road Fund and the idea was the driving force behind the establishment of the $50 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
At the forum, the prime minister will address the plenary session of high-level dialogue besides addressing the two leader’s roundtable sessions on policy synergy for closer partnership and connectivity cooperation for inter-connected development. A number of agreements and MoUs related to CPEC projects are also expected to be signed on the occasion.
Besides attending the BRF, the prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines with several other heads of states and the governments attending the forum. The prime minister will also visit Hangzhou and Hong Kong where he will interact with business leaders and attend investment conferences. The prime minister will address a Business Forum in Hong Kong.
