Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari held a brief meeting with prime minister-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday and exchanged views over current political scenario, Dispatch News Desk (DND) reported.
The meeting took place in the Presidency where President Zardari hosted a luncheon of visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang who arrived in Islamabad today on his two-day visit. During the meeting, sources said Nawaz and Zardari exchanged views on the overall political situation of the country. On the occasion, the president congratulated Nawaz Sharif for his party’s victory in May 11 general elections.
All three service chiefs, caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chaudhry Shujat Hussain, Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi, Maulana Fazl Urrehman, Sheikh Rasheed, US ambassador Richard Olson and other figures from various walks of life‚ renowned media persons and members from the civil society also joined the luncheon.
Addressing on the occasion, President Zardari expressed his best wishes for the upcoming government, hoping that Pak-China relations would further strengthen. Earlier today, the Chinese PM’s plane landed on Islamabad’s Noor Khan airbase where he was given warm welcome with 21-gun salute.
PM Khoso, all three service chiefs, President Zardari, Nawaz Sharif and member of the caretaker cabinet welcomed the distinguished guests after they alighted from their special plane. It is the first visit of Li Keqiang to Pakistan after becoming the prime minister of China, providing him an opportunity to him to meet new Pakistani leadership and discuss ways to further strengthen deep rooted bilateral ties. This visit will give further impetus to strategic relations between the two countries.
The Chinese Premier was accompanied by a high powered delegation which includes Foreign Minister Wang Yi‚ Minister for Commerce Gao Hucheng‚ and Chairman of National Development Reform Commission Xu Shaoshi. Besides having bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister‚ Premier Li Keqiang will hold a joint meeting with the Chairman Senate and Speaker National Assembly and also address the Senate of Pakistan.
Premier Li Keqiang will also visit the Pakistan-China friendship Centre alongwith the Prime Minister of Pakistan and meet with Pakistani friends who have played a role in promoting Pakistan-China relations. He will also plant a tree at Shakarparian.
