Economics
Pakistan’s Sharif Looks to China for Boost on Foreign Debut
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Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif begins a six-day visit to China today as he seeks investment in power and transport projects to revive an economy crippled by electricity shortages and insurgent violence.
In picking Beijing for his first overseas trip since winning May 11 elections, Sharif is signaling that securing Chinese funding ranks among his foreign policy priorities as a slowdown pushes Pakistan toward a fresh International Monetary Fund bailout. Unrest in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang which authorities have in the past linked to Islamist training camps in Pakistan may also be on the agenda.