LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif left for China on Tuesday, Aug. 24, for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening ties between Punjab and China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region, with high-level meetings and talks planned during her stay.
Chinese Consul General Sun Yang was at the airport to see Maryam off before her departure. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways to deepen cooperation.
Upon reaching Urumqi International Airport, Maryam will be received by senior Chinese officials. She will then begin her official engagements at Kunlun Hall in the conference center at the Xinjiang State Guest House.
During the visit, Maryam is scheduled to meet a high-level delegation led by Chen Xiaojiang, secretary of the Communist Party of China Xinjiang Committee.
The Punjab chief minister will also meet He Zhongyou, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Xinjiang Committee. Maryam is also scheduled to meet a delegation from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC).
Senior Xinjiang officials will host a formal dinner in honor of Maryam and the Punjab delegation during the visit. The chief minister will stay at the Xinjiang State Guest House as a state guest throughout her four-day official trip.
The visit comes as Pakistan and China continue efforts to expand cooperation between their regions and institutions. Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, has maintained close ties with Chinese partners through development, infrastructure and economic cooperation projects.
Maryam’s visit is expected to further strengthen these ties and create opportunities for broader cooperation between Punjab and Xinjiang.
