On April 20, 2015, President Xi Jinping arrived in Islamabad, starting his state visit to Pakistan.

When Xi Jinping's special plane entered Pakistani territorial airspace, eight Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jets took off to escort it. At around 10:50 a.m. local time, the special plane arrived at the Nur Khan Air Force Airport. As Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan stepped out of the cabin door, twenty-one gun salutes were fired to show respect to the distinguished Chinese guests. Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well as their wives went to the gangway ladder to warmly shake hands with Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan and extend warm welcome for Xi Jinping's state visit to Pakistan. Two Pakistani children dressed in national costume presented bouquets to Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan.

Mamnoon Hussain and Nawaz Sharif held a grand welcome ceremony at the airport. The national flags of China and Pakistan waved in the wind. The guard of courtesy, lining up on both sides of the red carpet, saluted them with eyes. Xi Jinping, accompanied by Mamnoon Hussain and Nawaz Sharif, stepped onto the reviewing stand, and the military band played the national anthems of China and Pakistan. Xi Jinping then reviewed the honor guard of the three services. Eight Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jets roared over the airport, saluting the distinguished Chinese guests.

The leaders of both countries introduced the members of their respective delegation. Pakistani children, standing on both sides of the red carpet, scattered petals on it to express sincere blessings to the Chinese friends from afar. Xi Jinping and Mme. Peng Liyuan waved to the children with smile.

The motorcade then left the airport for the hotel where they would stay, and the national flags of China and Pakistan were flied and placards with slogans including "Extend the Warmest Welcome to President Xi Jinping", "Long live the Pakistan-China Friendship", "Wish a Long-lasting Pakistan-China Friendship" as well as "Pakistan and China Are Sworn Brothers" stood along both sides of the streets.

Xi Jinping conveyed sincere greetings from the Chinese people to brotherly Pakistani people. Xi Jinping pointed out that the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan enjoys a time-honored history. Since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship, China and Pakistan have forged an all-weather friendship and carried out all-round cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and pushing forward regional peace, stability and development. China always views China-Pakistan relations from a long-term and strategic perspective. Pakistan is the first stop of my overseas visit this year. I am eagerly looking forward to extensive contacts with Pakistani leaders and people of all circles, exchanging in-depth views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. I hope to, through the visit, consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, deepen bilateral practical cooperation in all fields, promote bilateral strategic cooperative partnership to a new level and enrich the connotation of China-Pakistan community of shared destiny, thus to play an exemplary role in building the community of common destiny between China and its neighboring countries.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and other delegation members arrived by the same plane.

H.E. Sun Weidong, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, also greeted them at the airport.

Pakistan is the first stop of President Xi Jinping's visit. After that, Xi Jinping will also attend the Asian-African Summit as well as activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference in Indonesia.