Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Tianjin on Saturday for an official visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, underscoring Islamabad’s efforts to reinforce its “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” with Beijing.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit reflects the commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral cooperation, advance Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and sustain regular consultations on key regional and global issues. The premier is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Adviser Tariq Fatemi.
During the trip, PM Shehbaz will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit and deliver an address at the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing. He is also scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang for wide-ranging talks on trade, infrastructure, energy, and investment.
In addition, the prime minister will hold interactions with leading Chinese entrepreneurs and corporate executives to explore opportunities for enhanced economic engagement. Earlier this month, in a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for China’s core interests while lauding Beijing’s consistent backing of Pakistan’s sovereignty and development goals.
