China mum on dates of Xi's visit to Pakistan

China today said President Xi Jinping looks forward to visit Pakistan at an early date to deepen their all-weather cooperation, but did not comment on reports that he would be in Islamabad on April 10.
Xi was to visit Pakistan last year during his South Asia trip to India, Sri Lankan and the Maldives but postponed it due to political unrest in the country with opposition leader Imran Khan staging a protest in Islamabad for alleged rigging in 2013 polls that were won by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
President Xi looks forward to paying a state visit to Pakistan at an early date within this year, and the two sides are in close communication on this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

"We hope and believe that this visit will further cement China-Pakistan friendship and deepen all-weather cooperation. As for the specific date of the visit, I have nothing to offer at this moment," she said, but did not confirm reports that Xi will visit Pakistan on April 10.
Yesterday a senior Pakistani official had said that Xi may arrive in Pakistan on April 10 to deepen economic and strategic ties between the two all-weather allies.
Pakistan has been speculating about Xi's visit for a while after he put off the visit to Islamabad last September.
Earlier there were reports about Xi's participation at Pakistan's National Day parade held for the first time after seven years on March 23, which the Chinese President skipped.