DHAKA: Pakistan’s foreign ministry on Saturday said Chinese president Xi Jinping’s state visit scheduled for this month had been postponed due to anti-government protests in Islamabad.

‘In view of the current political situation in Pakistan, the governments of China and Pakistan have mutually agreed to postponement of the state visit of H.E. Xi Jinping, president of China, to Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place later this month,’ the ministry said in a statement. Diplomats from both countries were discussing new dates for the visit, it added.

‘Both countries underline that China and Pakistan are time-tested all-weather friends. Both sides attach high importance to the visit of president Xi Jinping to Pakistan, as early as possible, for promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.’

Pakistani opposition groups on Wednesday resumed talks with the government in a bid to end the political crisis rocking the country, but remained in a stalemate over demands for prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation.

The fresh talks came after days of clashes between police and club-wielding anti-government protesters left three dead and hundreds injured, raising fears of an intervention by the powerful military that has ruled Pakistan for more than half its history.

BDST: 1447 HRS, SEP 06, 2014