Tianjin: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held an important meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated President Xi Jinping on the successful hosting of the SCO summit and on the 80th anniversary of victory in the war against fascism. He praised China’s remarkable development, calling it the result of President Xi’s visionary leadership.
The Prime Minister stated that the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) presents new opportunities for Pakistan, particularly in enhancing development in the areas of ports, energy, agriculture, and livestock. He linked the ongoing terrorism in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to external elements and appealed to China to play a leading role in facilitating comprehensive dialogue in South Asia to promote regional peace and development.
He emphasized the importance of benefiting from China’s expertise in dealing with animal diseases and highlighted livestock as a key pillar of Pakistan’s agricultural economy. The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the global initiatives proposed by President Xi, such as the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, and assured Pakistan’s full support for these efforts.
President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s full support for Pakistan during the second phase of CPEC. He acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and emphasized the importance of ensuring security for development and cooperation.
Both leaders described the Pakistan-China relationship as “unparalleled and unique” and agreed to further deepen their strategic partnership. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited President Xi to pay an official visit to Pakistan in 2026 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. President Xi accepted the invitation with pleasure.
During his visit to Tianjin, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The two leaders expressed satisfaction over bilateral relations, and the Prime Minister congratulated Azerbaijan on reaching a peace agreement with Armenia.
In his meeting with the Iranian President, the two leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening political and economic ties between Pakistan and Iran. A meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was also scheduled, along with a visit to a local hospital in Beijing, indicating Pakistan’s interest in cooperation in the healthcare sector.
