File Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pakistan next week to deepen economic and strategic ties between the two all-weather allies, a senior official said today.
The Chinese leader was to visit Pakistan last year during his South Asia trip to India, Sri Lankan and the Maldives but postponed it due to political unrest in the country with Pakistan's opposition leader Imran Khan staging a protest in Islamabad for alleged rigging in 2013 polls that were won by incumbent Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
A government official said that the Chinese leader would be in Pakistan around April 10.
"He would hold high-level meetings and unveil several economic projects," the official said.
Mr Xi Jinping is also expected to address the joint session of Pakistan's Parliament, the official said.
There are over two dozen Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) and agreements regarding nuclear power, the Gwadar port, the Pak-China Economic Corridor (PCEC), energy, trade and investment that are likely to be signed.
Pakistan Foreign Office had earlier confirmed that the visit of the Chinese leader will take place this year but had not given the exact dates.
Mr Xi Jinping was expected to attend the Pakistan National Day parade on March 23 as a special guest but could not undertake the trip due to some domestic engagements.
Pakistani and Chinese leaders over the years have pledged robust cooperation in several fields and described their relationship as an "all-weather" friendship.