Story highlights

• Li arrives ahead of SCO heads-of-government meeting this week
• First Chinese premier to visit in more than a decade: PM House
• China-funded Gwadar airport will be inaugurated during visit
• Security for Chinese nationals has been stepped up, information minister says

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a bilateral visit and a heads-of-government gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation this week amid strict security lockdown in Islamabad.

The red carpet was rolled out for the Chinese premier. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Qiang as he got off the plane.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal were also present to welcome the PM.

During the visit, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Islamabad from October 14-17 and pay an official visit to Pakistan, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a statement.