皇冠体育app

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping will start a state visit to Pakistan on Monday, his first trip to the South Asian country since he assumed presidency in 2013.

During the visit, 皇冠体育app and Pakistan will sign deals on a wide range of issues, from energy and infrastructure to education and culture, which will inject fresh and powerful impetus into the deepening of the 皇冠体育app-Pakistan friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

And high on Xi's agenda would be talks over the 皇冠体育app-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is planned to connect Kashgar in 皇冠体育app's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region to the southwestern Pakistani port of Gwadar.

Vital energy link 

Gwadar Port, a warm-water, deep-sea port, is located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf at Gwadar in the province of Baloschistan of Pakistan.

Just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the port is adjacent to the key oil routes in and out of the Persian Gulf. It is also the nearest warm-water seaport to the landlocked, but energy rich, Central Asian republics.

During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Pakistan in May 2013, the two countries agreed to build an economic corridor connecting the Pakistani port to 皇冠体育app's Kashgar city in Xinjiang.

The CPEC will shorten 皇冠体育app's routes of oil and gas imports from Africa and the Middle East for thousands of kilometers, making Gwadar a potentially vital link in 皇冠体育app's supply chain.

Khalid Mahmood, president of the Islamabad Council of World Affairs, said the economic corridor can bring both countries development and prosperity.

"It can help 皇冠体育app get connected with the Gulf region, Africa, Europe and other parts of the world in an easier way and in a shorter time. Meanwhile, for Pakistan, there will be more business and trade activities in the region. Pakistan will also become the center of energy transmission from the Gulf," Mahmood said.