Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Expected to Inaugurate Gwadar International Airport in Pakistan
Chinese premier Li Qiang is set to inaugurate operations at the Chinese-funded Gwadar International Airport in Pakistan’s Balochistan province during his upcoming visit. The $200-million airport’s start of operations was delayed for a security review after attacks by separatist militants in August. Li, along with ministers and officials, will visit Pakistan from Oct. 14 to 17 to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Islamabad.
The new airport, expected to be one of Pakistan’s largest, will handle domestic and international flights. The inaugural ceremony, initially planned for August, was postponed due to a sit-in protest by an ethnic Baloch rights group. Separatist militants and Islamist groups in Balochistan have targeted government, army, and Chinese interests in the region.
Despite security challenges, China has pledged to collaborate with Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in the country. The region’s volatile situation underscores the importance of maintaining security for all stakeholders involved.
(This summary is based on information from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)