Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in China on Tuesday, Radio Pakistan reported. He landed in Shenzhen, on the first leg of his official five-day visit to China.

Shenzhen Vice Mayor Luo Huanghao welcomed him at the airport. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior cabinet ministers are accompanying the premier in his first official visit to the “friendly neighbour” since assuming office.

Shenzhen is the first stop during the prime minister’s official visit to China.

During his two-day stay in Shenzhen, PM Shehbaz and his delegation would meet the leadership of the Guangdong province and the Shenzhen Municipal Government as well as leading Chinese companies in innovation and high-tech sectors.

The premier would also inaugurate the Pakistan-China Business Conference in line with his “vision to support, promote and lead collaboration between the businessmen of the two countries.”

A business delegation of leading Pakistani businesspersons would attend the conference in collaboration with influential Chinese counterparts.

Shenzhen is the hub of China’s innovation, technology and research-led companies and enterprises.

He is visiting China at the invitation of his local counterpart Li Qiang. He will visit the southern and northern provinces of Guangdong and Shaanxi, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

PM Shehbaz would also meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Beijing is Islamabad’s closest regional ally, readily providing financial assistance to bail out its often-struggling neighbour.

China has inked more than two trillion dollars in contracts around the world under its Belt and Road investment scheme, with billions pouring into infrastructure projects in Pakistan.