British News Agency

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departed for the city of Hangzhou as part of the first stage of his four-day visit to China.

It was reported that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Special Advisor Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the prime minister during the visit.

As part of the visit, Sharif is expected to meet with the Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary in Hangzhou, participate in a business forum organized within the framework of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and witness the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding between Pakistani and Chinese companies.

The prime minister will also meet with senior executives of leading Chinese companies and visit the headquarters of tech giant Alibaba.

During the Beijing leg of the program, meetings are scheduled with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Sharif is also expected to attend a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations.

It was also stated that the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) will be visited, and the contacts are expected to further strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.