China President Xi Jinping will make history when he visits Pakistan this year, becoming the first Chinese president to visit its western neighbor in nine years.

Xi, who is also set to embark on his first state visit in the United States this September, will finally push through with the plan to visit Pakistan after the trip was canceled last year due to anti-government protest in Pakistan.

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China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the pronouncement following his two-day visit to Pakistan recently, adding that President Xi will visit Pakistan at the earliest possible date this year.

"This will be President Xi's first visit to Pakistan as head of state, and the first visit by a Chinese president in nine years," Wang said, adding that China and Pakistan are "iron-clad pals and true friends".

"This is not a dictate from heaven nor was it achieved in a single day. It illustrates how bilateral relations have weathered the trials of history and established a high degree of mutual understanding, trust and assistance," Wang said.

Aside from announcing the visit of President Xi in Pakistan, Wang also told Chinese journalists that he offered to help in mediating stalled efforts to bring Afghan Taliban into the negotiating table for a possible peace process.

The move, he said, reflects China’s desire to play a more active role in a region it sees as part of its sphere of influence,

Afghanistan and its Western backers have been trying to bring Taliban figures to the negotiating table to end years of war in the country.

Reuters reported that Pakistan is key to the process because of its historic ties to the Taliban leaders, who have used the Pakistani border region as a safe haven.

In September, President Xi will embark on his first state visit to the United States upon the invitation of US President Barack Obama.

The invitation was extended by the American president to his Chinese counterparts during their telephone conversation, where they talked about various issues.

The White House confirmed that preparations are now being made for the first official trip of President Xi.

TagsChina-Pakistan Ties, Xi Jinping Pakistan Visit