PM Shehbaz in China on 4-day official visit

Hangzhou (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached China on Saturday for a four-day official trip aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he landed at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, where he was formally received by the vice governor of China’s Zhejiang province.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present on the occasion.

PM Shehbaz is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and adviser Tariq Fatemi.

Earlier on Friday, the Foreign Office (FO) had officially announced the premier’s visit scheduled from May 23 to May 26. It highlighted that the trip carries added importance as both countries are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations.

The statement described Pakistan-China ties as an “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” and said the visit would help reinforce this longstanding relationship while advancing a shared vision for an even closer community with a common future.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz will engage in high-level talks with Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

The discussions are expected to cover the full spectrum of bilateral relations, including political coordination, economic collaboration, and strategic cooperation, with special attention to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade and investment, industrial development, agricultural modernization, IT, science and technology, and exchanges between the peoples of both nations.
His itinerary begins in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where he will chair the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference.

Later in Beijing, PM Shehbaz will participate in a reception organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to mark the milestone of 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Officials have said the visit is expected to further strengthen mutual political trust, deepen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation, and reinforce the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.

At his weekly briefing on Friday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that the ongoing US-Iran tensions are also likely to be discussed during meetings between the Pakistani prime minister and Chinese leadership.

He added that Pakistan and China remain closely aligned on regional developments in the Middle East and continue to coordinate efforts aimed at promoting peace.

He also recalled Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China, noting that both sides had already agreed on a five-point principle outlined in a joint statement, which will again be part of the discussions during the current visit.