Xi Jinping to make first state visit to Pakistan
President will go to nation's western neighbour later this year, says Foreign Ministry
President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan this year, China’s foreign minister said, in what will be his first trip to the country’s western neighbour since taking office in 2013.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement on Thursday in Pakistan’s capital, where he spoke of the two countries’ “all-weather” friendship.
Xi was scheduled to go to Pakistan last year, but the trip was postponed due to anti-government protests in Pakistan.
A statement posted on the Foreign Ministry’s website said the president would go to Pakistan at the earliest possible date this year.
“This will be President Xi’s first visit to Pakistan as head of state and the first visit by a Chinese president in nine years," Wang said.
During his two-day visit to Pakistan, Wang offered to help in mediating stalled peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
It reflects China’s desire to play a more active role in a region it sees as part of its sphere of influence.
Afghanistan and its Western backers have been trying to bring Taliban figures to the negotiating table to end years of war.
Pakistan is key to the process because of its historic ties to Taliban leaders, who have used the Pakistani border region as a safe haven.
