By NewsGram Staff Writer
Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan from today is expected to make way for a $28 billion investment in the neighbouring country. The investment comes as a first step towards $45 billion bellwether Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) Project.
Jinping is expected to roll out billion dollars for infrastructure and energy assistance, something that the United States never offered in the 10 years of its so called 'close-friendship'. It is said that this gesticulation of the Chinese President is likely to corroborate the downturn of American influence in Pakistan, US media reported.
In an op-ed, titled "Pak-China Dosti Zindabad" (Long Live the Pakistan-China Friendship), published in Pakistan's Daily Times, the Chinese president expressed that,
When I was young, I heard many touching stories about Pakistan and the friendship between our two countries. To name just a few, I learned that the Pakistani people were working hard to build their beautiful country, and that Pakistan opened an air corridor for China to reach out to the world and supported China in restoring its lawful seat in the United Nations. The stories have left me with a deep impression. I look forward to my upcoming state visit to Pakistan.
In a news conference, Pakistan's Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that Jinping's tour is the first visit by a Chinese president to Pakistan after nine years, and "The strength of the Pakistan-China friendship is one of the unifying factors in the country and a centrepiece of Pakistan's foreign policy, strengthened by all past governments irrespective of domestic differences."
During the visit, Jinping, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other Pakistani leaders will come together for a detailed dialogue on bilateral relations and issues pertaining to common interest.
Pakistan also looks forward to Jinping disclosing tons of projects under the corridor linking China's Xinjiang province with Gwadar port through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).