Qureshi in Beijing to brief China on Indo-Pak talks: officials

During the five-day visit, Qureshi will hold bilateral meetings with the top Chinese leadership, call on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Secretary General, hold luncheon meeting with corporate leaders, and speak at Chinese Institute of International Studies, officials at the Pakistan Embassy here said today.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister will hold formal talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and call on Premier Wen Jiabao.
The two sides will cover the full spectrum of bilateral relations. Qureshi is expected to brief the Chinese leadership on the regional situation, including the India-Pakistan Foreign Secretary talks on February 25 in New Delhi in a bid to normalise its relations with New Delhi.

India has stalled the composite dialogue with Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, asking Islamabad to punish those involved in the carnage.
Qureshi will also discuss Islamabad’s efforts to deal with terrorism internally with the Chinese leadership.
The meetings with Jiechi and Premier Wen would bolster the already "strong all-weather", time tested friendship between Pakistan and China, the officials said.

In his meeting with SCO Secretary General, Muratbek Sansyzbayevich Imanaliev, Qureshi would highlight the "pivotal and constructive" role Pakistan is playing in the region and would underline his country's keen desire to expand its relations with SCO, the officials said.

Pakistan is currently an observer at the SCO, along with India, Iran, and Mongolia.
A report in China Daily early this month said that the SCO is assessing applications of Iran and Pakistan for full membership and reviewing its criteria for membership.
In his meeting with the corporate leaders, Qureshi would highlight his government's policy towards foreign investment in Pakistan, especially for the Chinese investors.
Pakistan and China were already implementing the Free Trade Agreements on goods, investment and services and there is a vast scope for the enterprises of both countries to get maximum benefit from these new trade and investment architecture, the officials said.

Qureshi would also address Chinese Institute of International Studies in which he would highlight the role of Pakistan to ensure peace and stability in the region as well as the world, Pakistan government newsagency APP reported.
It quoted Pakistan Ambassador Masood Khan as saying that Islamabad fully support Beijing's stand on Tibet, Taiwan and the steps taken to ensure peace and stability in Xinjiang region.

On the second leg of his visit, Qureshi would leave for Shanghai on Tuesday to address the Shanghai Institute of International Affairs (SIIS), visit Shanghai Expo 2010 site, and meet local leadership.