China’s President to Visit Pakistan

China’s President to Visit Pakistan – Unique Times

China’s President Xi Jinping will visit Pakistan this year in what will be the first trip by a Chinese head of state to its western neighbour in nine years, as Beijing looks to take a bigger role in South Asia.China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the announcement on Thursday in Pakistan’s capital, where he spoke of the two countries’ “all-weather” friendship. During his two-day visit to Pakistan, Wang also offered to help in mediating stalled efforts to engage the Afghan Taliban in peace negotiations, reflecting China’s desire to play a more active role in a region it sees as part of its sphere of influence. Afghanistan and its Western backers have been trying to bring Taliban figures to the negotiating table to end years of war in the country. Pakistan is key to the process because of its historic ties to the Taliban leaders, who have used the Pakistani border region as a safe haven.

Denisha Sahadevan