BEIJING: Prime Minister 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.
Addressing Chinese Premier Li Qiang during delegation-level talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the prime minister stressed the need for collective international efforts to restore peace in the Gulf region, warning that the ongoing crisis involving Iran was affecting not only regional economies but the wider global community.
“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.
“We hope and pray to Allah Almighty that peace will be restored forever, and lots of ground has already been covered. Things are moving in the right direction,” he added.
Sharif said Pakistan and China needed to stand together to help stabilise the region and restore normal economic activity.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی چینی ہم منصب لی کیانگ سے ملاقات کیلئےگریٹ ہال آف دی پیپلز آمد اور گارڈ آف آنر@CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/Eqzkr6fbul
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) May 25, 2026
“I think we have to really be together so that the world at large is at peace, and business as usual starts again,” Shehbaz Sharif said during televised remarks.
He warned that the ongoing tensions had disrupted economies across the region, particularly for countries dependent on imported energy supplies.
“This crisis has hit many countries, not only the economy in the region, Pakistan, which is a net importer of oil and oil products, but the global community,” he said.
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.
“Shehbaz Sharif said lots of ground had already been covered and that developments were moving in the right direction towards peace.”
The prime minister also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership for supporting ceasefire efforts and promoting diplomatic engagement during the crisis.
Strategic Cooperation
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.
The prime minister emphasised the importance of aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s national development initiative, Uraan Pakistan, to accelerate economic growth and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
He also appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s economic stability and national development, while reiterating Islamabad’s firm commitment to ensuring comprehensive security for Chinese nationals, institutions and projects operating in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz further underscored the significance of expanding cooperation in emerging sectors, including space technology, artificial intelligence and advanced innovation.
He noted that the selection of Pakistani astronauts for China’s space station programme reflected the growing depth of strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing in new and high-tech domains.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination, expedite the implementation of agreed projects and advance Pakistan-China relations into a new phase of practical, result-oriented and high-quality cooperation.
