Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from May 23-26, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi confirmed on Friday.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said the visit is on the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. He said the prime minister would conduct key meetings with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Sharif would also chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference and attend a reception ceremony in Beijing, Andrabi said, adding the visit would play an important role in further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“The visit will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic partnership and advance a shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community of a shared future,” he said. “The two sides will review bilateral relations, cooperation in political, economic, and strategic domains,” he added.
During the briefing, the spokesperson noted Pakistan and China had recently marked the completion of 75 years of diplomatic relations with official-level celebrations. He said both countries have supported each other in every difficult time over the past 75 years, stressing the relationship has expanded beyond diplomacy into strong partnerships in trade, industry, education, and people-to-people contacts.
According to Andrabi, Pakistan and China are reaffirming their “everlasting friendship” and commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation as they mark 75 years of diplomatic ties.
A day earlier, addressing an event commemorating the Diamond Jubilee of Pak-China diplomatic ties, the prime minister said China has consistently stood with Pakistan with steadfast support through thick and thin, and the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger over time.
“China has stood like a rock with Pakistan in every difficult time,” he said, recalling Pakistan was the first Islamic country to recognize China. He said the event celebrating Chinese friendship was a source of great joy.
Describing Pak-China ties as a unique example in the world, which had stood the test of time, he reiterated that Islamabad fully supported the One China policy.
Sharif also said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was important for Pakistan’s economy and employment generation. He said China had lifted 800 million people out of poverty, describing its economic and military leadership as an example for the world.
President Asif Ali Zardari also addressed the event, congratulating the leadership and people of China, especially President Xi Jinping, on the completion of 75 years of diplomatic ties. He said the relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was built on mutual trust, unwavering support and shared development goals.
He further said bilateral cooperation had expanded across trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, defense and people-to-people exchanges. Pakistan and China, he emphasized, would continue supporting peace, stability, development and multilateralism at the regional and global levels.
Both countries, Zardari maintained, had always safeguarded each other’s core interests and maintained close cooperation in education, agriculture, science and technology, defense and cultural exchanges.