ALBAWABA- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a four-day official visit to China with both countries announcing a broad new consensus to deepen their “all-weather” strategic cooperative partnership, reinforcing political, economic, and security ties amid shifting regional dynamics.
The visit, held from May 23 to 26, 2026, coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, established in 1951. During the trip, Sharif met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing and participated in business and investment engagements in Hangzhou.
At a Pakistan-China Business Conference in Hangzhou, companies from both countries signed agreements and memorandums of understanding valued at more than $7 billion, with some reports indicating that approximately $1.22 billion in value was from immediately actionable deals.
The agreements covered sectors including information technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, 5G infrastructure, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing, climate initiatives, and industrial cooperation.
The deals reflect both countries’ focus on advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, with increased emphasis on industrialization, digital transformation, clean energy, agricultural modernization, and scientific and technological collaboration.
During talks in Beijing, Xi described China’s relationship with Pakistan as “unbreakable” and praised Islamabad’s role in supporting regional peace efforts. Both sides reaffirmed mutual backing on core national interests, including China’s One China policy and Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The leaders also agreed to accelerate development under CPEC as a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, aligning future projects with Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” development framework and China’s long-term economic planning priorities. Discussions further focused on expanding trade and investment, strengthening people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing counterterrorism coordination.
Sharif’s meetings with Li Qiang highlighted the importance of closer international cooperation amid global economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability. The Pakistani prime minister thanked Beijing for its longstanding support and called for joint efforts to promote regional stability and economic recovery.
The ongoing Iran situation also featured prominently in the discussions. Xi reportedly welcomed Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran following earlier regional hostilities and acknowledged Sharif’s recent diplomatic engagement in Tehran. Pakistani officials briefed Chinese leaders on recent developments related to ceasefire efforts and regional de-escalation initiatives.
Both countries emphasized support for diplomatic solutions and broader Middle East stability, recognizing the importance of secure trade routes and regional calm for energy security and Belt and Road connectivity projects.
