Islamabad, April 20 (IANS): Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Islamabad on Monday on his maiden visit to Pakistan.

The much-anticipated visit is the first by a Chinese president after nine years, Dawn online reported.

The Chinese president was received at the Noor Khan air base by President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khwaja Asif and members of the prime minister's cabinet.

Xi's trip has being dubbed a 'fate-changing visit' as he is expected to roll out nearly $28 billion for the first phase of the $45 billion flagship Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (PCEC) Project.

Banners reading "Pakistan-China Friendship Zindabad", portraits of the Chinese and Pakistani presidents and flags of the two countries waving across Constitution Avenue welcomed Xi here.

According to sources, both countries are expected to sign a number of agreements and memorandum of understanding worth almost $50 billion, relating to key development projects in infrastructure, energy, and communication sectors under the ambit of the CPEC.

Xi will be conferred with the country's highest civil award, the Nishan-e-Pakistan.