BEIJING: China’s President Xi Jinping praised Pakistan for its constructive role in promoting peace between Iran and US during a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday.
He also hailed Beijing’s “unbreakable” friendship with Pakistan and reaffirmed China’s commitment to further strengthening the longstanding “all-weather” strategic partnership between the two nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in China on Saturday for a four-day official visit, reaching Beijing on Sunday after a brief stopover in Hangzhou.
“China is ready to work with Pakistan to move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, work for more results in our all-weather cooperation, […] contribute to regional peace and stability and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighbouring countries,” Xi said addressing bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People.
.براہِ راست: وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف اور چین کے صدر شی جنپنگ کی ملاقات میں ابتدائی گفتگو https://t.co/7OE7dAtnJI
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) May 25, 2026
Xi Jinping described Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as an “old friend,” saying China and Pakistan had, over the decades, built a relationship rooted in mutual understanding, trust, and support, forming what he called an “unbreakable tradition of friendship.”
“Despite international changes, China has always prioritised Pakistan relations in our neighbourhood diplomacy,” Xi said.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who concluded his official visit to Iran on Saturday, was also present at the occasion.
“I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts to mediate for peace. We appreciate the constructive role of Pakistan,” Xi said.
Following a ceasefire reached after the US-Israeli conflict with Iran in April, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has played an active role in mediation efforts between United States and Iran. In recent weeks, amid Islamabad’s diplomatic engagement, Washington has reported progress in negotiations with Tehran.
Meanwhile, Xi Jinping praised Pakistani students in China for serving as “builders of cooperation, promoters of exchanges, and guardians of China-Pakistan friendship.” He added that he was encouraged to see the longstanding ties between the two countries being carried forward by the younger generation.
“Our strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation have greatly contributed to our respective development,” the Chinese president said.
Iron Brothers
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Pakistan and China as “iron brothers,” saying their relationship is “second to none.” He also praised Xi Jinping as a “great friend of Pakistan and a great friend of peace-loving humanity.”
Marking 75 years of a “glorious partnership,” the prime minister said the credit for building this enduring relationship goes to the founding leaders of both countries, who laid its strong foundations over seven decades.
He further assured the Chinese leadership that Islamabad and Beijing would continue to strengthen their ties in the years ahead, adding that both sides plan to hold year-long celebrations to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
“Under your dynamic leadership, China is not only a world-class economic power; it is also a military power, meant for progress and peace in the world, promoting your own philosophy of multilateralism around the globe,” PM Shehbaz said.
Commending Xi’s focus on prosperity through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, “This differentiates you as a towering figure around the globe.”
The premier further said, “I draw a lot of strength from your leadership.”
He highlighted that a “lot of transformation and structural changes” had been brought in Pakistan, but there was still a long way to go.
PM meets Chinese counterpart
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz held a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was actively engaging both Washington and Tehran to help restore peace in the Gulf region, adding that “things are moving in the right direction” towards a ceasefire and broader regional stability.
“While we are meeting today, the world is passing through a very critical moment. There is a crisis in the Gulf, and Pakistan has played a very sincere role to mediate between the United States and Iran,” said Sharif.
He revealed that Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had recently returned from Tehran after engaging with Iranian leadership and coordinating regional diplomacy alongside Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
“He has played a very important role, back and forth with Iranian leadership and American leadership, along with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, with his counterparts, not only in Iran but also in the Gulf countries,” he said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and its next phase, with a focus on industrialisation, connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, clean energy and socio-economic development.
Separately, state-run Pakistan Television reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li also witnessed the signing and exchange of several memoranda of understanding, protocols, and cooperation agreements spanning trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, climate change, education, media, and people-to-people exchanges.
According to state-run APP, these 15 documents included an MoU on economic development cooperation and another on environment and climate change cooperation.
The two sides also signed a letter of handover for veterinary vaccines donation, along with the protocols on dried fruits, nuts and maize to be exported to China.
Moreover, both countries inked MoUs on conformity assessment cooperation, news cooperation and for cooperation between the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and Pakistan National School of Public Policy.
MoUs for co-production of documentaries and people-to-people exchanges in science and technology were also signed, as well as one on free trade and multilateralism. The two sides also signed a letter on counterterrorism equipment cooperation and an MoU on human resource development cooperation.
Lastly, they also signed MoUs on cooperation in the agriculture sector, and for cooperation between China Foreign Affairs University and the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan.
