Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang would make an official visit to Pakistan next month, in October, sources said on Tuesday as the two sides look forward to boosting bilateral ties through the multi-billion dollar corridor project and cultural exchange initiatives.

This will be the first visit by any Chinese prime minister to Pakistan in 11 years. Li Keqiang was the last Chinese premier to visit the neighbouring country in May 2013. It was a less than two weeks visit where he said that the two countries should make cooperation on power generation a priority.

Prime Minister Li would be in Islamabad from October 14 to 16. “Significant agreements” are set to be signed, including proposals for the construction of the ML-I railway track in various phases, during the three-day visit

There is also a proposal for the Chinese prime minister to address a joint session of Parliament. Moreover, Premier Li would participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting for heads of government on October 16.

Pakistan is set to host the SCO heads of government meeting from October 15 to 16. The event would be preceded by a ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials’ meetings focused on financial, economic, socio-cultural, and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states.

On Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed that Pakistan had invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming SCO meeting being held in Islamabad.

Aaj News reported on Monday that Pakistan has extended an invitation to Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to attend the meeting.

The meeting is expected to focus on consultations regarding trade and economic cooperation between member countries.

PM Shehbaz seeks enhanced collaboration with China in ‘key sectors’

“Pakistan aims to enhance its collaboration with China in areas such as information technology, artificial intelligence, and modern agriculture,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong who called on him in Islamabad on Monday.

The prime minister added that the friendship between Pakistan and China has endured and remained strong throughout the years.

He stated that the friendship between Pakistan and China has “withstood the test of time, with China providing unwavering support to Pakistan during every challenging period.”

He expressed Pakistan’s desire to enhance collaboration with China in the fields of information technology, artificial intelligence, modern agriculture, and other sectors.

The Chinese PM’s visit comes on the heels of Chinese Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces Gen Li Qiaoming. He visited the country on August 26.

Pakistan and China held high-level military talks, delving into pressing regional security concerns and seeking ways to bolster their defence ties amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

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“The meeting afforded an opportunity for in-depth discussions on matters of mutual interest, regional security, military training, and measures to further augment bilateral defence cooperation,” according to a readout from Inter-Services Public Relations on the meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir and Gen Li Qiaoming at the General Headquarters.

In June, PM Shehbaz visited China where he also met Chinese President Xi Jinping. The two leaders reaffirmed their consensus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’s high-quality development and the timely completion of major ongoing projects.

They also affirmed their consensus on CPEC’s upgradation and advancing the mega project’s development in its second phase.