LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif left for China on Tuesday for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between Punjab and China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, with high-level meetings and talks planned during her stay.
Chinese Consul General Sun Yang saw Sharif off at the airport before her departure. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways to deepen cooperation.
Upon arrival at Urumqi International Airport, Sharif will be received by senior Chinese officials. She will then begin her official engagements at Kunlun Hall in the conference center at the Xinjiang State Guest House.
During the visit, Sharif is scheduled to meet with a high-level delegation led by Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Xinjiang Committee. She also is scheduled to meet with He Zhongyou, deputy secretary of the committee, as well as a delegation from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Senior Xinjiang officials will host a formal dinner in honor of Sharif and the Punjab delegation. Sharif will stay at the Xinjiang State Guest House as a state guest throughout her four-day official trip.
The visit comes as Pakistan and China continue efforts to expand cooperation between their regions and institutions. Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has maintained close ties with Chinese partners through development, infrastructure and economic cooperation projects.
Sharif’s visit is expected to further strengthen those ties and create opportunities for broader cooperation between Punjab and Xinjiang.
