Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in China this week for his first visit after taking the helm in March. His visit will include a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in order to “jointly draw a blueprint” for China-Pakistan relations, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Revitalizing Pakistan’s cash-strapped economy is at the top of the agenda. Speaking during a meeting of the Pakistan-China Business Forum in Shenzhen, he said his country has $10 trillion in mineral reserves, while annual exports only reach $30 billion. He urged them to invest in mineral extraction and production up the value chain.