Nawaz Sharif in China to attend SCO summit

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has arrived in Zhengzhou, China on a two-day official visit.

He is being accompanied by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The prime minister will represent Pakistan at the SCO summit in Zhengzhou as an observer.

The most important point on the agenda of the summit will be to promote regional cooperation and enhance linkages.

The summit will also focus on cooperation in economy and trade, transport and people-to-people exchanges.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister will have a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and discuss matters of mutual interest.

Pakistan was invited to become full member of the SCO at Ufa summit in July this year and all relevant procedures are being completed for full membership.

Earlier, talking to newsmen on board his plane on way back from Turkmenistan the Prime Minister said future of the world is linked with peace and development in South Asia.

He said Pakistan wants good relations with neighboring countries by resolving all disputes peacefully.

The Prime Minister said he has asked India not to let the progress made at talks between the two countries to reverse.

He stressed the need for concerted efforts at the international level to deal with the challenge of terrorism.

About TAPI gas pipeline project, the prime minister said it will prove to be a game changer for Pakistan and open new vistas of greater regional economic cooperation leading to progress and prosperity.