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ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Ministry says Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to Pakistan has been postponed over the mass anti-government demonstrations shaking Islamabad.
Protesters have been demanding that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif step down over allegations of fraud in last year's election.
The Foreign Ministry issued a statement Saturday saying Beijing and Islamabad “mutually agreed” to postpone the visit, which was to take place later this month.
It said new dates for the visit were being discussed.
Sharif has said postponing the Chinese leader's visit would be a great loss as he was hoping for $34 billion in Chinese investment in the coming years.
Chinese FO spokesman says visit was not 'officially announced'
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang at press conference Friday said there was no announcement made regarding a planned visit of the Chinese president.
While responding to a question, the FO spokesman said that China and Pakistan are friendly neighbours and have maintained close high-level exchanges but "it is worth pointing out that we have never released any information about President Xi's visit to Pakistan officially.
"There is no basis to say we are about to cancel anything", the press release said.
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Sep 06, 2014 12:29pm
The Chinese foreign office had earlier denied reports of any visit by the Chinese President in the first place. So what is our foreign office clarifying?? Are they implying that they know more than the Chinese themselves!?
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Sep 06, 2014 12:41pm
Hope he postpones his trip to India too. It will give a wrong signal if he visits India after postponing the trip to Pakistan whatever be the reason.
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Sep 06, 2014 12:49pm
It is a loss for Pakistan but the PTI's online brigade will soon be out in force trying everyone to convince how it was a bad idea, how we didn't need the investments, how NS will secretly transfer the money to London or may be how Chinese govt is a secret Nawaz supporter
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Sep 06, 2014 01:23pm
One of a kind.
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Sep 06, 2014 01:27pm
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Sep 06, 2014 01:53pm
Are Imran Khan and Qadri happy now? Look what they have done.
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Sep 06, 2014 02:36pm
@Sulman Khan I guess you didn't read what chinese are saying
" there was no announcement made regarding a planned visit of the Chinese president in the first place".
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Sep 06, 2014 02:38pm
: Media reports said that China has cancelled President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan out of security concerns. Can you confirm that?
A: China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors enjoying all-weather friendship and comprehensive cooperation. We have maintained close high-level exchanges. Both sides are in close communication on the next step of such exchanges. It is worth pointing out that we have never released any information about President Xi's visit to Pakistan officially. So, there is no basis to say we are about to cancel anything.
As for the current security situation in Pakistan, we hope relevant parties in Pakistan can work together while bearing in mind the fundamental interests of the state and the people, and jointly safeguard national security.
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Sep 06, 2014 03:47pm
Government played trump card. Imran+Qadri didn't realize that government wanted to get the protestors cleared from Parliament House but failed despite resorting baton charging, using tear gas, firing rubber bullets, injuring and killing and therefore Aristotle or Plato advised the government to say that Chinese President is coming so they agreed to vacate the place and returned back at D Chowk but in fact Chinese VVIP is not coming and the place is already vacated by them. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Sep 06, 2014 03:56pm
There was no visit to start with. Ahsan Iqbal lied to everyone just to put pressure on the protesters. However, yesterday Chinese FO confirmed that a visit was not planned, so there is no question of delay. Now our FO wants to fool us again.
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Sep 06, 2014 04:08pm
Chinese may be having second thoughts whether any Investments they make will be recoverable, in light of the many threats and internal turmoil. With the Chinese cracking down heavily on the Uighurs in Xinjiang, not allowing veils, scarves, beards, they will be easy targets for home grown Jihadi's if they come to Pakistan. It seems discretion is better than valour.
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Sep 06, 2014 05:08pm
Do most of the commentators even read DAWN's articles or they just read the header and erupt? The article clearly states that the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified that there wasn't announcement of the trip officially then how can we cancel the trip officially.
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Sep 06, 2014 05:08pm
PM Nawaz befooled Imran+Qadri and got Parliament area vacated by both the protestors saying that Chinese President is visiting though he is not visiting. I winder Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former Foreign Minister don't have contacts in Foreign Ministry to confirm to him in Chinese VVIP is coming or not coming. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
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Sep 06, 2014 05:17pm
The Chinese spokesman said "it is worth pointing out that we have never released any information about President Xi's visit to Pakistan officially." That's convenient then. I suppose the Chinese security team that arrived in Islamabad ahead of the what-was-to-be-visit came for tourism purposes to Islamabad in the middle of the dharna. Of course there was a visit planned to Pak, India and Sri Lanka, in that order. The first leg stands cancelled, deal with it.
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Sep 06, 2014 05:53pm
@Ahmer Super!!! What a attitude my friend. Why should he skip India's trip just because he cannot visit Pakistan? In fact the Chinese coming to India for their own Business.Anyway for your second doubt. Pakistan has sent enough signals around the world of what is happening inside.
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Sep 06, 2014 05:59pm
@Moiz Omar
Read and understand what the Chinese said before passing a comment.
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Sep 06, 2014 06:32pm
Chinese did not say that there was not a planned visit. They only said that no announcement was made. Chinese President was expected to visit Pakistan in September and dates were being finalized. However; the Dharna of PTI and TUQ torpedo the visit. The postponement of trip is a very serious diplomatic setback for Pakistan. China is the only country that openly supports Pakistan but now they are thinking about on their support too. We have taken their unconditional support for granted. We should stop making comments about this trip and start working diplomatically behind the scene to re-schedule the trip. I am confident that Chinese understand and they will try to re-schedule it as soon as it is feasible
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Sep 06, 2014 07:37pm
@Ahmer ...The Chinese will come to India. We have USD 100 billion trade with them per year. The trade deficit is 75% in favor of China. What does India have to do with Pakistan in this regard....?
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Sep 06, 2014 07:47pm
Looks like the Chinese have been backing the loosing side. Haha
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Sep 06, 2014 07:51pm
According to Chinese news, there was no such agenda of Presidents visit to Pakistan. It will be heart breaking for Pakistan, and tragedy, as he will be visiting India.
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Sep 06, 2014 07:52pm
i am an IDP from Bannu and our PM gave me an IPhone during his last visit.
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Sep 06, 2014 07:52pm
Visit or no visit , Chinese will always support and protect Pakistan .
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Sep 06, 2014 08:10pm
@rosario grow up stand on your feet. No friendship is permanent.
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Sep 06, 2014 08:23pm
@Sulman Khan Reminds me of the AAP supporters online conspiracy theories in India
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Sep 06, 2014 08:52pm
@IDP He should have given you job or college admission instead. How are you recharging the iPhone? Just curious. :P
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Sep 06, 2014 09:13pm
India is safe,he will be welcomed in India with open arms.
I would be very worried if I had to go Pakistan.
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Sep 06, 2014 09:59pm
There was no planned visit in the first place, so how can it be delayed.
Government is just missing public to turn against PTI and PAT.
Keep it up PTI
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Sep 06, 2014 10:51pm
Was Pakistan ever on the itinerary of President of China? This seems to be an elaborate hoax by the Sharif brothers to pin the blame on PTI and PAT for a visit that never was. There is total silence on part of China and the claim that he was coming with $34 billion is a figure way out of the past Chinese support to Pakistan. If there was actually this commitment of $34 billion, where is that money now?
Is there any documentary proof that there actually was a visit that was canceled.
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Sep 07, 2014 04:53am
This is FO spin. There was never any Chinese Premiers visit scheduled.
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