On an invitation of the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi would visit China at the end of March to attend an “immediate neighbours” conference on Afghanistan.

“There will be China, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and all neighbours. At the end of the moot, we will invite Afghanistan’s interim foreign minister to discuss the decisions with him,” FM Qureshi said while talking to reporters in Islamabad. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, and Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin were also present.

The foreign minister said that his Chinese counterpart hailed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC’s) Council of Foreign Ministers’ (CFM’) on Afghanistan, which was held in Islamabad on December 19.

“We will enable the trilateral platform of China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan,” he said, adding that there are expectations for ‘Troika Plus’ also, in an apparent reference to a moot involving diplomats from Russia and the United States on Afghanistan.

Moreover, he added that a detailed conversation was held on Afghanistan’s future and coordination over the war-torn country.

Secondly, FM Qureshi said that Pakistan in recent past and still was having concerns over the state of minorities in India. “When we say minorities, it’s not just about Muslims, but Sikhs, Christians and Dalits [are also facing difficulties],” he said.

Moreover, he added Pakistan and China were having “clarity” on the Kashmir issue

‘Comprehensive meeting’

According to the foreign minister, he had never seen “such detailed and comprehensive meetings” with the heads of state as Prime Minister Imran Khan-led delegation had this time.

During the meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he said that both the leaders discussed strategic matters, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project’s next phase and bilateral matters. Moreover, the premier discussed enhanced market, economic development, and trade imbalance with his Chinese counterpart.

He said this time Pakistan had visited China with a “homework” and gave the Chinese leadership a “pitch book”, which contained details about the areas of investment for Chinese investors. The FM said the premier met at least 18 companies – including private and state-owned – during his four-day China visit.

“PM Imran thinks we should not waste such a successful meeting and we have suggested a follow-up mechanism. We will follow up on our discussions,” he said, “With CPEC Authority chairman, I will visit China in March to bring the practical outcome of our plans and our work.”

On the whole, he said the delegation got “popularity more than their expectations.”
He added the small contingent of Pakistan was well received by the Chinese public that reflected that the country’s friendship was “people-centric.”

Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the visit was successful.

On opposition’s criticism that the government was here to “take deputy foreign minister,” he said: “Unfortunately those who don’t even know the spelling of multilateral and bilateral have become experts of foreign affairs.”

He added that all members of the delegation were received like the way PM was received. Fawad said China would help Pakistan in developing winter games in the country.

On the PPP and PML-N huddle, he said the opposition’s criticism proves “how successful was the China trip” and termed their meeting on Kashmir Solidarity Day as Solidarity Day of Criminals solidarity.

“All stealers were together [on Saturday] and signed a pact. It is your [Bilawal Bhutto Zardari] misperception that you can organise a long march. You cannot even organise a short march this is the 13th time you have given such a call,” Fawad said.

He added that Pakistan-China ties were changing the region and the country’s economy.

He also spoke about meeting with the Uzbekistan president, saying that the latter would visit the country in March.

“I just want to say no conspiracy will be successful against the PM, defeat is your [opposition] fate.”