PM, Chinese premier meet

Earlier, Sharif held a meeting with the Chinese premier, who welcomed the Pakistani delegation's participation at the forum, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said.

Sharif congratulated Premier Li on the organisation of the summit, saying: "Pakistan fully supports China's vision of the Belt and Road Forum".

"Pakistan considers China its most valuable friend," the prime minister said, adding that the participation by chief ministers of all four Pakistani provinces at the forum is an indication that "we are all one for [the success of] the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor".

He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment for the completion of early harvest projects under CPEC.

New Silk Road summit

Delegates will hold a series of sessions on Sunday afternoon to discuss the Silk Road plan in more detail, including trade and finance. China has given few details about attendees.

Leaders from 29 countries will attend the forum in Beijing on May 14-15, an event orchestrated to promote Xi's vision of expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.

Some Western diplomats have expressed unease about both the summit and the plan as a whole, seeing it as an attempt to promote Chinese influence globally.

China has rejected criticism of the plan and the summit, saying the scheme is open to all, is a win-win and aimed only at promoting prosperity.

In an English-language commentary on Saturday, China's state-run Xinhua news agency said the new Silk Road, officially called the Belt and Road initiative, would be a boon for developing countries that had been largely neglected by the West.

“As some Western countries move backwards by erecting 'walls', China is contriving to build bridges, both literal and metaphorical. These bridges are China's important offering to the world, and a key route to improving global governance,” it said.