Islamabad, Pakistan - October 13, 2024

The Pakistani Information Minister expressed enthusiasm for Chinese Premier Li Qiang's upcoming visit, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two nations and the importance of ongoing cooperation projects between China and Pakistan.

In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network on Sunday in Islamabad, Pakistan's Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, warmly welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who has been invited by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to attend the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and pay an official visit to Pakistan from from Monday to Thursday.

Recalling the last visit by former Premier Li Keqiang in 2013, Tarar emphasized the long-standing relationship between China and Pakistan.

The minister highlighted the importance of the projects on the agenda during Prime Minister Sharif's visit to China in June.

Tarar expressed hope that the visit would lead to tangible outcomes for these initiatives.

Shotlist:
Islamabad, Pakistan - Oct 13, 2024:
1. Aerial shot of buildings, traffic;
2. Various of traffic, mountains, trees, flowers arranged in shape of butterfly;
3. Various of worker installing sign reading "Long live Pakistan-China Friendship";
4. Sign reading "Warm welcome to dear brother and great friend";
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister, Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (starting with shots 3-4):
"First of all, we are very excited to welcome the Chinese premier after eleven years in Pakistan, and Premier, His Excellency Li Qiang is a great friend of Pakistan, and under the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping, Pak-China relations have been strengthened. This is a bond that we share, and we call ourselves iron brothers, and it's a time-tested friendship.";
6. Screen reading "Twenty-third meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)";
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister, Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (partially overlaid with shot 8):
"I think it is very heartening that a lot of projects had been discussed during our prime minister's visit to Beijing. We discussed the ML-1, we discussed the Gwadar International Airport, and a lot of projects were discussed.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Sign reading "Shanghai Cooperation Organization";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
9. Various of workers planting greenery on street;
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Attaullah Tarar, Federal Minister, Pakistani Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (ending with shots 11-12):
"I think this time around when the Chinese premier is here, I hope and pray that these projects are taken forward and turned into something tangible, so we're looking forward to that. We're doing a lot of work regarding that, and we believe that the ML-1 and the Gwadar International Airport are extremely important for Pakistan to improve Pakistan's connectivity, for Pakistan's trade route, and for CPEC. So we're looking forward to working further on these projects.";
11. Building, street lamps, flowers;
12. Aerial shots of traffic, cityscape.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]