BEIJING/ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday as both countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
During the meeting, President Xi Jinping stated that China and Pakistan had built an “unbreakable traditional friendship” based on mutual understanding, trust, and support. He emphasized that China will always prioritize its relations with Pakistan in its neighborhood diplomacy, regardless of international changes, said a statement from the prime minister’s office.
President Xi also appreciated Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, for mediating negotiations between Iran and US in the recent conflict.
“Field Marshal Munir, [you] are also welcome in China,” he added, “I know you just came back from Iran for positive efforts to mediate for peace.”
PM Sharif thanked President Xi for the warm reception and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership with China. He stated that the iron-clad friendship between the two countries had assumed even greater strategic importance in the evolving regional and global environment.
Both leaders agreed to carry forward the historic legacy of Pakistan-China friendship and transform the 75th anniversary into a new phase of strategic, practical, and future-oriented cooperation.
The meeting also included the Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and other senior Ministers and government officials.
The PM reiterated Pakistan’s firm support for China on its core interests, including the One-China Principle, and expressed appreciation for China’s consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national development and economic stability.
Having undertaken a successful visit to Hangzhou a day earlier, the Prime Minister commended President Xi’s pivotal role in the development of Zhejiang Province, where he served as Governor from 2002 to 2007.
He further expressed admiration for President Xi’s bold and visionary leadership, which has transformed China into a global power.
While expressing appreciation for China’s support for Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for regional peace, Shehbaz Sharif said President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal for regional peace was widely appreciated.
He said that amid the current turbulent times, Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation serve as a stabilizing factor in the region and beyond.
The Prime Minister commended President Xi Jinping’s visionary global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the vision of a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity.
The PM pledged to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
He underscored the need to further deepen strategic coordination, advance high-quality CPEC development and align China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Uraan Pakistan to facilitate broader cooperation in industrialization, connectivity, science and technology, agriculture, clean energy and digital transformation.
The PM noted that the selection of Pakistani astronauts for China’s space station programme reflects the growing strength of Pakistan-China cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif along with senior officials from both countries also laid flowers at the monument of the People’s Heroes at Tiananmen Square in Beijing later on Monday, said a statement from the prime minister’s office.
During the special ceremony, national anthems of both countries were played upon the arrival of the prime minister.
Tiananmen Square, which is located in the heart of Beijing, is regarded as a significant symbol of China’s history, culture, and national identity.
Earlier in Beijing, Pakistan and China signed multiple agreements, protocols and MoUs aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation in key sectors between the two countries, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad.
The signing of agreements took place at a ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.
The documents cover trade, agriculture, science and technology, climate change, education, media, and people-to-people exchanges.
The statement said that the key agreements include protocols on agricultural exports, such as maize and dried fruits, as well as cooperation in environmental protection, economic development, and human resource training.
It added that educational and institutional linkages were also strengthened between policy and foreign service academies of both countries.
According to the statement, “Media collaboration agreements were signed between PTV and Chinese counterparts, alongside science and technology partnerships.”
Both sides emphasized that the agreements reflect the growing depth and diversification of Pakistan-China relations and will further enhance practical cooperation for mutual development and shared prosperity.
Also, PM Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing during his official visit marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, said a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office in Islamabad. The two leaders reaffirmed the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reiterated support on issues of core interest to both countries.
According to the statement, the meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation in political, economic, strategic, security, and people-to-people domains, while expressing satisfaction over the steady progress of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC’s next phase, focusing on industrialization, connectivity, agriculture, clean energy, science and technology, and digital transformation,” the statement read.
The prime minister also appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic stability and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals and projects.
Both sides agreed to enhance coordination and accelerate the implementation of key bilateral initiatives. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was received at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Monday, where he met Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
PM Sharif arrived in China on Saturday for a four-day official visit and reached Beijing on Sunday after a stop in Hangzhou.
Upon arrival at the Great Hall of the People, he was given a guard of honor, according to footage released by the government. Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who wrapped up his visit to Iran on Saturday, was also present on the occasion.
