PM Shehbaz Sharif to Visit China for Strengthening Bilateral Ties

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will embark on an official five-day visit to China from June 4-8, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, as announced by the Foreign Office on Friday.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz will engage in high-level discussions with President Xi and Premier Li in Beijing. He will also meet Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, along with key government officials.

A significant part of the visit includes touring economic and agricultural zones and addressing the Pakistan-China Business Forum. The Prime Minister will also engage with top executives from leading Chinese companies in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies.

The visit highlights the robust Pakistan-China friendship, marked by frequent high-level exchanges. Discussions will focus on enhancing the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and advancing cooperation in trade, investment, security, defense, energy, space, science, technology, and education.

The visit will also include stops in Guangdong and Shaanxi provinces, further solidifying the strong ties between China and Pakistan.

PM Shehbaz recently chaired a meeting to review preparations for his visit, emphasizing the importance of result-oriented business-to-business meetings and strategies to attract Chinese industries to Pakistan. He assured full facilitation to industrialists and investors, with a delegation of Pakistani industrialists, investors, and businessmen set to accompany him to Shenzhen.

The Chinese foreign ministry expressed anticipation for PM Shehbaz’s visit, highlighting it as an opportunity to enhance the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership and build a closer community of shared destiny.

Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman Zhao Leji, will engage with PM Shehbaz in in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and shared concerns, planning the future development of China-Pakistan relations.

The visit will also include stops in Guangdong and Shaanxi provinces, further solidifying the strong ties between China and Pakistan. Mao Ning emphasized that the China-Pakistan friendship, tested by time, remains steadfast and continues to yield fruitful results in high-quality CPEC construction and international cooperation.