Spokesperson says Pakistan, China to discuss trade, investment and strategic cooperation during prime minister’s visit
The Foreign Office announced on Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an officialvisitto China from May 23 to 26 at the invitation of the Chinese government.
He said the visit carries “special significance” as both countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. would provide an opportunity to reaffirm the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
According to the spokesperson, PM Shehbaz is scheduled to hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
"The two sides will review bilateral relations, cooperation in political, economic,. strategic domains, with particular focus on high-quality development, trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agriculture modernisation, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges," he said.
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The prime minister will begin his visit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, where he will chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference covering sectors such as IT, telecom, energy, energy storage,. agriculture. In Beijing. he will also attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to mark the anniversary celebrations.
"The visit is expected to further strengthen. deepen political trust, strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation, and consolidate the long-standing friendship between the two countries," Andrabi said.
Responding to questions, the spokesperson said the ongoing US-Irantalkscould also come up during PM Shehbaz’s meetings with the Chinese leadership.
He added that Pakistan. China already shared established trust on Middle East affairs and recalled that both sides had agreed on afive-pointagenda during Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China.
The spokesperson said Pakistan continued its diplomatic efforts for peace, dialogue,. de-escalation amid tensions in the Middle East and Gulf region.
He further noted that PM Shehbaz held two telephoneconversationsover the past week with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which both leaders discussed bilateral cooperation. regional developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East and Pakistan’s peace efforts.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path towards lasting peace and stability.
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Andrabi added that Deputy Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also remained actively engaged with regional counterparts as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach.
On May 18, Dar held a telephoneconversationwith Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, while on May 17 hespokewith Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty regarding regional developments. multilateral engagement.
On May 16, Dar alsospokewith Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov on bilateral relations and regional affairs.
The spokesperson further reaffirmed Pakistan’scondemnationof two drone attacks carried out on May 17 targeting Saudi Arabia. the United Arab Emirates, expressing solidarity with both countries.
Referring to the attack involving theUAE, Anbrabi warned, "Any deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities constitutes a grave violation of international law.” He added, “Nuclear installations must never be targeted under any circumstances,. we hope that this tragic and grave incident will not recur."
The spokesperson also paid tribute to Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Muhammad Farooq. Abdul Ghani Lone, who were martyred on May 21 in 1990 and 2002, respectively. He also remembered the 70 Kashmiris killed while carrying Farooq’s coffin.
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"The lack of accountability for the gruesome killing of innocent Kashmiris. their leaders remains a festering injustice and a chilling example of the brazen impunity that defines the deplorable human rights situation in IIOJK [Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir]," the spokesperson said.
He urged the international community. the United Nations to take notice of the situation and ensure a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute in line with UN Security Council resolutions.
Andrabi further said Pakistan welcomed the safe arrival in Istanbul of all detainees from the Israel-interceptedGlobal Sumud Flotilla, includingSaad Edhi,. thanked the Turkish government for its support.
He also noted that PM Shehbaz. Ishaq Dar had received a delegation of senior Bangladeshi civil servants visiting Pakistan under thePakistan-Bangladesh Knowledge Corridor Initiativefor a three-week programme at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore.
Separately, Pakistan. Russia held the 16thmeetingof the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability in Moscow on May 18, with both sides agreeing to enhance cooperation at international forums, the spokesperson added.
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