Beijing (TDI): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday, reaffirming Pakistan and China’s commitment to deepening their “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” and advancing the upgraded phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC-II).
The talks, held in a cordial atmosphere and followed by a luncheon hosted in honor of the Pakistani delegation, reviewed the progress of bilateral relations. Both leaders expressed satisfaction over the strong momentum in ties and stressed the importance of implementing the Joint Action Plan 2024–2029.
During their warm and friendly meeting, the two leaders expressed their satisfaction at the positive trajectory of Pakistan-China relations. The Prime Minister expressed his deepest gratitude to the Chinese leadership and nation for their unflinching support to Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and socio-economic development.
Building on the important consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and the Prime Minister in their meeting, both Premier Li and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed their shared resolve to further strengthen the iron-clad, all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.
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The Prime Minister congratulated the Chinese leadership on the successful hosting of the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in Tianjin and extended his felicitations to China on the 80th anniversary of the success of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance and World’s Anti-Fascist War.
While paying rich tribute to China’s impressive transformation under President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan wanted to emulate China’s successes and build a stronger and closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future.
He noted that the Government’s tireless reform efforts were yielding promising results, made possible through China’s strong support. The premier also shared Pakistan’s intent to float Panda Bonds in the Chinese capital market soon.
On the economic front, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant contribution of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in Pakistan’s socio-economic development in the past decade, and stressed upon the need for early implementation of ML-I, KKH realignment and operationalization of the Gwadar Port. Both sides also agreed to continue working closely on the next phase of upgraded CPEC 2.0, with its five new corridors.
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Emphasizing on the vast potential for B2B cooperation and investment, the Prime Minister briefed the Chinese Premier on the B2B Investment Conference held earlier in the day, where more than 300 Pakistani and 500 Chinese companies were in attendance. He identified agriculture, mines and minerals, textile, industrial sector and IT as priority areas for mutually beneficial economic collaboration.
The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s support for President Xi Jinping’s landmark initiatives to strengthen multilateralism, including the Global Governance Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative as well as Global Civilization Initiative.
Both countries would celebrate the 75th anniversary of establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic ties, next year.
Both the leaders also attended the ceremony of sharing of Memorandums of understanding and agreements signed and announced between the two countries with regard to cooperation in the development of CPEC 2.0, science and technology, IT, media, agriculture, etc.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
