Islamabad (TDI): The Foreign Office on Friday officially announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26 at the invitation of the Chinese government.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, during his weekly media briefing, said the visit carries special importance as Pakistan and China are celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
He said the visit would provide an opportunity for both countries to reaffirm the strength of their long-standing “all-weather strategic partnership” and further advance their shared vision for deeper bilateral cooperation.
According to the FO spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz will hold meetings with top Chinese leadership during the visit, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
The two sides are expected to review bilateral relations as well as cooperation in political, economic and strategic sectors, while also discussing regional and international developments.
Andrabi said the visit is aimed at further strengthening political trust, enhancing strategic coordination, expanding practical cooperation and consolidating the historic friendship between Islamabad and Beijing.
The prime minister will begin his visit from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, where he is scheduled to chair the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference focused on expanding trade and investment collaboration.
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During the Beijing leg of the visit, PM Shehbaz will also attend a special reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Foreign Office later issued a separate statement reiterating details of the premier’s visit and describing Pakistan-China relations as a cornerstone of regional cooperation and development.
During the briefing, Andrabi also responded to questions regarding India’s rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s supplemental award issued on May 15 concerning the Indus Waters Treaty.
He said India’s rejection held “no political or legal value,” adding that the arbitration mechanism was established under the treaty framework and its decisions are binding on both parties.
“India’s refusal to participate cannot invalidate lawful proceedings,” he said, while maintaining that the treaty remains fully in force despite New Delhi’s claims to hold it in abeyance.
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The spokesperson further stated that the ruling reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-held position regarding limitations on India’s control over the western rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Addressing the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, Andrabi urged the international community and the United States to take notice of what he described as ongoing human rights violations in the region.
He paid tribute to Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone on their death anniversaries, calling them symbols of the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination.
