ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will begin a three-day visit to Beijing today (Thursday) to express unity with China at a time when the United States and its western allies have opted to boycott the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
The visit, according to officials, was largely intended to send a message to China’s adversaries that Pakistan stood by its “all-weather and time-tested buddy.”
However, despite the fact that the visit is not formally bilateral, Islamabad is using it as an opportunity to discuss a number of critical bilateral matters, notably the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Several preparation discussions were held in Islamabad before to the visit to fine-tune the agenda, which focused on increasing trade, attracting investment, and transferring industries from China to Pakistan.
Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over a meeting with federal ministers Shaukat Tarin, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, and Hammad Azhar, as well as Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, State Minister Farrukh Habib, National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf, and Special Assistants Shahbaz Gill and Khalid Mansoor, just a day before his departure for Beijing.
The prime minister was briefed in detail on CPEC, Special Economic Zones, trade, information technology, and agriculture initiatives.
The PM may also request that the Chinese leadership roll over the loans that Pakistan has taken out under CPEC for other projects, including the energy sector.
The Pakistani government has already resolved its differences with independent power producers (IPPs) by lowering the return rate.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit China from February 3-6, 2022, at the invitation of the Chinese government, to attend the Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony.
The prime minister will be joined by a high-level delegation that includes cabinet members and top government officials, according to the statement.
“As a global event, the Olympic Games promote global understanding, inclusivity, and friendship between peoples.” Beijing will soon become the first city to hold the Olympic Games in both summer and winter. Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, the Chinese government has made thorough arrangements for the Winter Olympic Games to take place.”
Despite the fact that the US and other Western countries have refused to send official delegations to the event, accusing China of human rights violations, the prime minister is attending.
The premier’s visit will cap off 70 years of celebrations marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, with over 140 events planned to demonstrate the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’s resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and the unfolding international situation.
PM Imran will also meet with important Chinese business leaders, as well as representatives from key Chinese think tanks, academia, and the media, while in Beijing. On the sidelines, he’ll have other bilateral encounters.
PM Imran’s journey to China will be his fourth, but it comes amid a number of issues, including a deterioration in Pak-US ties and reports of Chinese “disappointment” with the poor or non-existent progress on the CPEC projects.
In light of the emerging cold war between China and the United States, Pakistan’s relationship with China has grown in importance. Although Pakistan has stated that it will not participate in “block politics,” it is clear that in an increasingly polarised globe, Islamabad is leaning toward Beijing.
The fact that the Prime Minister is attending the Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony, which is otherwise boycotted by the United States and other Western countries, is proof of this. The premier has previously refused to attend US President Joe Biden’s Democracy Summit.
Observers say that the premier’s impending travel to Beijing will be widely monitored because he will not only meet with Chinese authorities but also contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
