ISLAMABAD, January 13: Prime Minister Imran Khan is paying a three day visit to China from 3rd of next month to attend the opening ceremony of Winter Olympics Games, Beijing 2022 at the invitation of Chinese leadership. This was confirmed by Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad Thursday. The spokesperson said Prime Minister Imran Khan, during his visit, will also have interaction with the Chinese leadership to further strengthen Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and to exchange views on regional and international issues. The Spokesperson said Pakistan looks forward to the successful Winter Olympics in Beijing. Asim Iftikhar said Pakistan welcomes the Global Development Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping as a timely and good intention step to facilitate implementation of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. He noted it will help promote international cooperation required to overcome the triple challenge faced by the world including Covid-19, related economic crisis and climate change. The Spokesperson said the Global Development Initiative will open up new avenues of collaboration with developing countries in support of their post pandemic economic recovery as well as long term sustainable growth. He said Pakistan and China are strong development partners and we look forward to further strengthen this partnership under China’s Global Development Initiative.
Responding to a question, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said Pakistan remains committed for a peaceful relations with its neighbours including India. He, however, said the onus is on India to create an enabling environment for dialogue. He regretted that there is no visible change in the hostile attitude and negative behaviour of India. The Spokesperson said Pakistan will continue to highlight Kashmir dispute and the rights of oppressed Kashmiri people at all the international forums. It is reprehensible that Indian occupation forces are continuing with the killing spree in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).-DNA