Key points
- Informal exchange held at GDI summit chaired by Chinese premier
- Pakistan reaffirmed support for Beijing’s Global Development Initiative
- White House meeting with President Trump scheduled for later today
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an informal interaction with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) summit in New York, hours before his scheduled White House meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Officials told Pakistan private Such TV that the Pakistani and Chinese leaders exchanged views during the high-level GDI session, which Premier Li had chaired at the United Nations headquarters. The interaction reaffirmed the two countries’ longstanding strategic ties and Pakistan’s endorsement of China’s multilateral development framework.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Li used the session to underline China’s commitment to promoting the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while Pakistan reiterated its readiness to partner in advancing the GDI’s priority areas, including poverty reduction, climate resilience, and digital connectivity.
The New York engagements precede Sharif’s first official meeting with President Trump at the White House later on Thursday which will take place at 4:30 p.m. Washington time. Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir expected to join the prime minister during the talks. The US State Department confirmed the meeting and announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would also attend. It said trade, economic cooperation, and regional security – including the Middle East – would dominate the agenda.
