Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain will be in China this week. The visit is expected to deepen cooperation between the two neighbors.
This will be the first foreign trip for President Mamnoon Hussain since he took office last year.
Experts maintain that visits of heads of states between the two countries have been of great significance.
Starting from the second president of Pakistan Ayub Khan's tenure in 1958 till today, the two neighbors have remained completely unaffected by any sort of security or political changes.
Makhdoom Baabar, an analyst, says, "This is President Mamnoon Hussain's first visit abroad, and he has chosen China, that alone is of great significance, similarly when Premier Li assumed power he visited Pakistan and held a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif visited China last year. This visit is very significant especially in the backdrop of US pullout, ISAF and NATO pullout from Afghanistan this year. Pakistan and China have high stakes in regional security. Issues such as energy crises where Pakistan requires China's help will also be discussed."
During this visit, the second meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor will be convened.
Observers say the two countries have started planning on implementation of infrastructure projects to concretize the gains of connectivity.
When talking about the cooperation between China and Pakistan, Baabar says, "Pakistan and China have already signed a lot of agreements. Unprecedented agreements regarding the expansion of bilateral trade and various other sectors have been discussed. Pakistan and China enjoy free trade agreement. Pakistan and China have also reached the agreement of expanding Karakoram Highway, which will link the Chinese province of Xinjiang to Gawadar port. They are also establishing the revival of Marine Silk Route."
Pakistan and China have also signed special trade contracts apart from free trade agreement. They have established economic trade corridor, which experts believe is vital and will enhance bilateral trade to the maximum.
The two countries are expected to increase trade volume, which is around $ 12 billion to $15 billion in the next five years.
Reportedly China demands all mega power projects to be handed over, following which, Beijing will directly invest in Pakistan
The Nawaz Sharif government is eager to accept this huge Chinese offer, and this mega contract is expected to be on top of President Mamnoon's agenda in this visit.
