Maryam Nawaz leaves for four-day official visit to China

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif left for China on Monday for a four-day official visit, with a series of high-level meetings scheduled with Chinese officials and representatives of key institutions in Xinjiang.

The visit is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation between Punjab and China, particularly through exchanges with officials in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC).

China’s Consul General Sun Weidong was present at the airport to see off the Punjab chief minister before her departure. Upon arrival at Ürümqi International Airport, Maryam Nawaz is expected to be received by senior Chinese officials.

The chief minister will begin her official engagements at the Xinjiang State Guest House’s Conference Centre, where she is scheduled to meet a high-level delegation led by Chen Xiaojian, Party Secretary of Xinjiang.

She will also hold a meeting with He Zhongyou, Deputy Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee. Discussions are expected to cover areas of mutual interest and opportunities for greater cooperation between Punjab and Xinjiang.

Another key engagement on the itinerary is a meeting with a delegation from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, commonly known as XPCC. The organisation plays an important role in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and economic development in Xinjiang.

The meetings could provide an opportunity for Punjab officials to examine Chinese experience in areas that are relevant to the province, including modern agriculture, urban development, public services and economic planning.

Maryam Nawaz and members of her delegation will also attend an official dinner hosted in their honour by He Zhongyou, Deputy Party Secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Regional Committee and Party Secretary and Political Commissar.

During the visit, the Punjab chief minister will stay as a state guest at the Xinjiang State Guest House, underscoring the official nature of her trip.

The China visit comes as Pakistan continues to place strong emphasis on its longstanding ties with Beijing and seeks to expand practical cooperation with Chinese provinces and institutions.

For Punjab, the visit could open new avenues for provincial-level collaboration and investment, while giving officials an opportunity to learn from development models being implemented in Xinjiang.

The four-day programme is expected to include further meetings and engagements aimed at strengthening institutional links between Punjab and Chinese authorities.

As Maryam Nawaz begins her China visit, attention will now turn to the outcomes of her meetings and whether they translate into new projects, partnerships and development opportunities for Punjab.