Sharif's upcoming visit to boost China-Pakistan relations: FM spokeswoman

BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China hopes Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's upcoming visit to China will promote relations between the two countries, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Monday.

Spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing that China attaches great importance to Sharif's visit this week, during which President Xi Jinping and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will each meet with him, and Premier Li Keqiang will hold talks with him.

Noting that China and Pakistan enjoy sound development of bilateral relations, she said the two countries have maintained frequent high-level visits and Sharif's visit is coming soon after Li's visit to Pakistan over a month ago, demonstrating the special friendship between China and Pakistan.

When she was asked to comment on the China-Pakistan economic corridor, Hua said the economic corridor project connecting Kashgar in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the southwestern Pakistani port of Gwadar was an important agreement between the two countries reached during Li's visit to Pakistan.

She said that to advance bilateral ties and promote regional development, the two countries will step up the construction of the project and make it a highlight of bilateral cooperation.

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