Observer Report
Beijing
PPrime Minister Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss the entire spectrum of bilateral relations in addition to regional and international issues during their upcoming meeting to be held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan this week, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Hanhui said here on Monday.
“I am sure the meeting between the two leaders will focus on pressing issues in the bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues,” he said while responding to a question asked by APP during his briefing on President Xi’s visits to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The vice minister, however, said that the arrangements for the relevant bilateral meeting between the two leaders were still being discussed.
He said this year Prime Minister Imran Khan visited China and held a meeting with President Xi in which they discussed bilateral relations and regional issues as well as counter-terrorism issues.
“Our bilateral relations are growing very well under the Belt and Road framework and in terms of counter-terrorism,” he added.
Zhang said both the countries had carried out concrete cooperation with very fruitful outcomes and added,“Such outcomes are important for our two economies and have played a positive role in promoting our respective security and regional stability.”
Briefing the media, he said President Xi would pay a state visit to Kyrgyzstan and attend the 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Bishkek from June 12 to 14.
Xi will also attend the 5th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, and pay a state visit to the country from June 14 to 16.
A series of formal and informal meetings, activities and bilateral discussions will be held, with dozens of agreements expected to be signed and declarations to be announced, he added.
The vice minister said the visits of President Xi would “inject vigor to the cooperation between the SCO and CICA.”
Zhang also noted that during the visits, China, along with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will draw a new blueprint for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and deepen economic and people-to-people interactions.
The leaders during the meeting will review the achievements of the SCO under Kyrgyzstan’s presidency, discuss plans for further cooperation and determine the areas of further development of the organization.
The Bishkek meeting is also expected to sign documents aimed at deepening interaction between regions, strengthen the fight against illicit drug trafficking, establish cooperation in information technologies, environmental protection, health care, and sports.
