Ahsan, Fatemi reach China on three-day visit

BEIJING: Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi arrived here on Wednesday on a three-day visit.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi and Chinese officials welcomed the minister and other members of his delegation at the airport. In his arrival statement, the minister said it had been the first high-level visit to China since the new government came to power. China is a historical friend of Pakistan, who supported us in difficult times, Ahsan said.

He said in the first phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), projects worth USD25 billion were being completed in Pakistan. Energy and infrastructure sectors were upgraded, he added. Ahsan said in the second phase of CPEC, agriculture, industry, green energy and technology sectors would be promoted.

The visit will help set the agenda for the 13th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, he added. The key agenda of the visit includes discussions on CPEC Phase 2, upcoming 13th JCC meeting and visit of the prime minister of Pakistan to China.