Nawaz Sharif, Li Keqiang to firm up plans for China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

BEIJING: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will meet his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang tomorrow during which they are expected to firm up plans to build an economic corridor through Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

The meeting between Sharif and Li at Boao Forum for Asia will give further impetus to the all weather friendship between the two nations and enhance cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a media briefing here today. Hong said Li will "exchange views on bilateral relations and topics of mutual concern".

In recent years, Pakistan-China relationship has enjoyed good and sound momentum, he said. Sharif arrived at Sanya island in China today where the forum is being held. He will speak on 'Reviving the Silk Road' at a seminar at the forum.

Sharif who is visiting China for the second time after taking over as Prime Minister and will review progress in bilateral ties, with particular focus on economic cooperation and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistan's state-run APP news agency reported. The Corridor was finalised during his visit here last year. It is planned through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, (POK), raising concerns in India.

China plans to connect the corridor with Gwadar, the strategic port in Pakistan. The Forum is an annual exercise being organised by China to brain storm national and international economic and trade issues. Besides Sharif, it will be attended by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov, Prime Minister of South Korea Jung Hong-won and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.