Pakistan and China reaffirmed their mutual commitment to elevate the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to its next phase of high-quality development. This consensus was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the historic Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The leaders expressed their determination to deepen cooperation across various fields, including political, security, economic, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.
The official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted the reaffirmation of the time-honored ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ between the two nations. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in his first meeting with President Xi since assuming office in 2024, engaged in a comprehensive discussion. The meeting was also attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir, federal ministers, and senior officials, underscoring the importance of the occasion.
The meeting exuded the traditional warmth and close strategic ties between Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Shahbaz expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation. He reminisced about President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan in 2015, which marked the formal operationalization of the multibillion-dollar CPEC, thereby opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Both leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situations in Afghanistan, Palestine, and South Asia, with particular attention to the human rights issues in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). They reiterated their longstanding support for each other’s core interests.
Prime Minister Shahbaz praised President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), acknowledging that CPEC, as the flagship project of BRI, has significantly contributed to Pakistan’s socioeconomic development. Both leaders emphasized the importance of high-quality development of CPEC and the timely completion of ongoing projects.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to CPEC, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized the need for close coordination between the development strategies of both countries. He assured full support for the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. The prime minister briefed President Xi on Pakistan’s policies for economic reform, sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity, highlighting CPEC’s critical role in these areas. He emphasized that the Pakistani government’s agenda for people-centric, socioeconomic development aligns with China’s concept of ‘shared prosperity.’
In honor of Prime Minister Shahbaz, President Xi hosted a banquet, which included another round of discussions on matters of mutual interest. Separately, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a meeting at the Great Hall of the People. Both leaders expressed their firm commitment to protect CPEC from detractors, ensure the timely completion of ongoing projects, and support the high-quality development of CPEC.
The premier was accompanied by key members of his cabinet. Upon arrival at the Great Hall of the People, a welcome ceremony was arranged in his honor. Discussions covered the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, regional, and global developments of mutual interest. Premier Li congratulated Prime Minister Shahbaz on Pakistan’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Both sides emphasized the timely completion of ongoing projects, focusing on industrial development, agricultural modernization, science and technology, and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for mutually beneficial socio-economic progress. The significance of Gwadar as a crucial pillar of CPEC was highlighted, with an agreement to expedite the completion of all related infrastructure projects to transform Gwadar into a regional economic hub.
Pakistan and China agreed to maintain close consultations on regional and global issues of mutual interest and in multilateral forums, especially during Pakistan’s tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The delegation-level talks concluded with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony, witnessed by Prime Minister Shahbaz and Premier Li, where 23 MoUs and agreements were signed, deepening cooperation in transport infrastructure, industry, energy, agriculture, media, health, water, and socio-economic development.
An official banquet hosted by Premier Li Qiang followed the meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz was honored with a guard of honor at the Great Hall of the People. The national anthems of Pakistan and China were played as the prime minister stood alongside his Chinese counterpart, reviewing the smartly turned-out contingent of the People’s Liberation Army.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also met Zhao Leji, Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. They agreed to promote engagement and cooperation between the NPC and the Parliament of Pakistan. During his five-day official visit to China, the prime minister proposed several initiatives to strengthen parliamentary exchanges, including enhancing interactions between the China-Pakistan Friendship Groups and exchanging delegations of young parliamentarians.
Meanwhile, Cheng Xizhong, Visiting Professor at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, highlighted the critical timing of Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit, noting that it comes as CPEC transitions to its second phase of practical cooperation, amid complex international and regional situations and challenges, including terrorism threats to economic cooperation between the two countries.
