ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday, with both leaders pledging to further strengthen their countries’ “iron-clad, all-weather” strategic partnership.
CPEC and economic cooperation
Sharif praised China’s “unflinching support” for Pakistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and socio-economic development, highlighting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the upgraded second phase of CPEC, which includes five new corridors designed to boost trade, infrastructure, and connectivity.
“This would help both countries to build an even stronger Pakistan-China community with a shared future,” Sharif told President Xi Jinping.
President Xi assured that China would continue assisting Pakistan in key sectors of economic growth and development, particularly under the expanded CPEC framework.
Global initiatives and multilateralism
Sharif lauded Xi’s “visionary leadership” and expressed Pakistan’s support for China’s global governance initiatives, including the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Governance Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative.
He said these measures would “serve the collective global good” and contribute to regional stability.
Global cooperation
Both leaders also discussed key regional and international developments, agreeing to maintain close coordination on global issues. Sharif congratulated Xi on the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin and extended greetings on the 80th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War.
Sharif also extended an invitation to Xi to visit Pakistan next year, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
