Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif begins China visit, to hold talks with Xi Jinping
Lahore, May 23
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday departed for Hangzhou, marking the first leg of a four-day official visit to China from May 23 to 26, aimed at expanding economic cooperation, strengthening strategic ties, and advancing projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, according to the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office.
In a post on X, the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office said that the delegation accompanying Sharif includes" Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi".
The statement said that Sharif will meet the Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province in Hangzhou, Wang Hao, participate in a business forum promoting cooperation under CPEC Phase 2, and attend ceremonies for the exchange of agreements and memorandums of understanding.
He is also expected to meet CEOs of major Chinese firms and visit the headquarters of Alibaba for further investment discussions.
He will later travel to Beijing for high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The visit will also include events marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, alongside engagements with major Chinese companies and a visit to the China Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).
A Foreign Office (FO) "Curtain Raiser" statement said that the visit will "reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership" and advance cooperation in CPEC, trade, investment, agriculture, IT, science, and people-to-people exchanges.
The FO statement added that the visit is expected to "further deepen political trust, strengthen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation, and consolidate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China."
According to Dawn, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, regional tensions, including the US-Iran conflict, are likely to be discussed during the visit.
"Pakistan and China have maintained close coordination on the standoff in the Middle East and our peace efforts in this regard," Andrabi said, recalling Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar's earlier visit to China.
He further added, "We agreed on a five-point principle, which was issued as a joint statement. So, yes, this issue will be discussed during the prime minister's visit."
— ANI
Reader Comments
These visits are like clockwork. Every Pakistani PM goes to China and comes back with promises of billions in investment, but ground reality is different. Their economy is in shambles—inflation, debt, political instability. Meanwhile, India is focusing on self-reliance and building partnerships with multiple nations. A lesson in strategic autonomy right there. 🇮🇳
Interesting how they discuss "regional tensions" including US-Iran conflict. Pakistan tries to position itself as a peace broker, but their internal issues with terrorism and their support for certain non-state actors make them a questionable mediator. China-Pakistan ties are old news; what matters is how India navigates this equation without getting cornered.
75 years of diplomatic ties with China—that's a long time for Pakistan. But what has it really given them? More debt, dependence, and a growing Chinese footprint in their economy. India should learn from this: while we engage with China economically, we must keep our strategic independence. No nation should become so reliant that they lose leverage. 💡
From an international perspective, this visit seems routine but carries heavy implications. The CPEC is essentially China's gateway to the Indian Ocean through Pakistan. For India, it's a strategic challenge. However, I think India's response should be to strengthen its own infrastructure and diplomatic ties, not just react to Pakistan-China moves. Self-improvement is the best strategy.
Pakistan's economy is on life support, and they're running to China again. But let's be honest—China is not a charity. Every
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