Islamabad, 15 Oct 2023: At the behest of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is scheduled to head to Beijing to take part in the third Belt and Road Forum commencing Tuesday. This information was shared with the media by Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani in Islamabad this past Sunday.

According to Jilani, the Prime Minister’s participation will center around the theme “Connectivity in an Open Global Economy”, during which he will also address the high-level forum. While in Beijing, the Prime Minister has several bilateral meetings lined up with top Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. In addition, he will engage in dialogue with global leaders present for the third BRF.

A significant highlight of the visit entails discussions with influential Chinese business figures, exploring potential avenues of cooperation and joint ventures within Pakistan. A series of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are set to be inked during this visit. These MoUs span several sectors, including agriculture, health, industry, green energy, and space technology.

Jilani underscored that this visit will not only fortify the Pakistan-China relationship but will also offer an avenue to evaluate the existing collaboration dimensions, with particular emphasis on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Post-Beijing activities will see the Prime Minister visiting Xinjiang, a key region in CPEC. Prime Minister Kakar’s itinerary in Xinjiang includes addressing the Xinjiang University and mingling with the local business community.

Simultaneously, the Foreign Minister spoke on the escalating Gaza crisis, revealing that an Emergency OIC Executive Committee Meeting is slated for Wednesday in Jeddah. Pakistan’s representation at this event will focus on condemning the siege of Gaza, emphasizing Israel’s obligations under international law and the UN Security Council, and affirming Palestine’s rights.

On a sports-related note, Minister Jilani commented on India’s reluctance in issuing visas to Pakistani cricket enthusiasts for the World Cup matches, terming it a violation of international norms. Both the Foreign Office and the Pakistan Cricket Board have approached the relevant Indian authorities via diplomatic channels, underscoring Pakistan’s deep concerns.