ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from Saturday to Tuesday for high-level talks aimed at further strengthening bilateral strategic and economic cooperation, China’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday.
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the leaders of both countries would hold detailed discussions on bilateral ties and regional issues of mutual concern.
“The leaders of China and Pakistan will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press conference on Thursday, adding that “China supports Pakistan in playing a fair and balanced mediating role in promoting peace and ending the war.”
Earlier, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Sharif would undertake the official visit from May 23 to 26.
According to Dar, the Pakistani prime minister will also attend a business-to-business (B2B) forum on May 24 focused on enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
The visit comes as Pakistan and China mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations on May 21, highlighting what both governments describe as one of the most enduring strategic partnerships in international relations.
Over the decades, relations between Islamabad and Beijing have expanded across trade, infrastructure, defence, energy, technology, education and people-to-people exchanges.
China remains Pakistan’s largest foreign investor, largely through the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, the multibillion-dollar flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Officials in both countries increasingly describe the next phase of cooperation as “CPEC 2.0,” with greater emphasis on industrial modernisation, digital connectivity, technology, green development and economic integration.
Sharif last visited China in September 2025 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
As Islamabad and Beijing prepare to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, both countries are using the milestone not only to commemorate decades of close cooperation but also to outline a broader vision for future strategic partnership.
