PM Shehbaz meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, reaffirms commitment to CPEC

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang, in Beijing on Monday, agreed to accelerate the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and take bilateral ties into a new stage of practical, results-oriented cooperation, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Li Qiang received PM Shehbaz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, with the meeting taking place in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The PMO said that the two leaders agreed that CPEC had played a transformative role in Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed their resolve for the implementation of its next phase.

The two leaders reviewed all aspects of Pakistan-China relations, expressing satisfaction over continued progress in bilateral cooperation across political, economic, strategic, security, and people-to-people domains.

According to the PMO, Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed that the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations should be used to translate the historic goodwill between the two countries into practical, people-centric, and future-oriented outcomes. He also emphasised the importance of high-level exchanges and close coordination to further strengthen bilateral ties.

He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC’s next phase, with special focus on industrialisation, connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, digital transformation, clean energy, and socio-economic development.

The prime minister also proposed aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s development framework “Uraan Pakistan,” saying this would help accelerate development priorities and further enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, the PMO added. 

He appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s national development and economic stability, and reiterated Pakistan’s firm commitment to ensuring foolproof security for Chinese citizens, institutions, and projects in Pakistan.

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On emerging technologies, the PMO said that the prime minister emphasised expanding cooperation in space exploration, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies. He noted that the selection of Pakistani astronauts for China’s space station programme reflects the growing depth of bilateral cooperation in new and strategic domains.

Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination, accelerate the implementation of agreed projects, and move the Pakistan-China partnership into a new phase of practical, results-oriented, and high-quality cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi, Advisor to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi.

PM Shehbaz address

During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding shared interests and promoting peace amid rising tensions in the Gulf. PM Shehbaz arrived in China on Saturday on a four-day official visit, reaching Beijing after a stopover in Hangzhou.

Referring to the ongoing regional crisis, the prime minister addressed the gathering and said that the world was passing through “a very critical moment” and stressed the need for collective efforts to restore stability. “We have to really be together so that the world at large is at peace,” he said.

PM Shehbaz noted that Pakistan had remained actively engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation between the US and Iran. He said Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had just returned from Tehran after consultations with Iranian officials and travelled overnight to attend the Beijing engagements.

He added that DPM Ishaq Dar had also been in contact with relevant regional stakeholders to support peace efforts. “We pray to Allah Almighty that peace will be restored. A lot of ground has been covered, and things are moving in the right direction,” he said.

He warned that the crisis had impacted both regional and global economies, particularly oil-importing countries such as Pakistan. “Pakistan, being a net importer of oil and petroleum products, has also felt the economic impact,” he said.

PM Shehbaz also thanked the Chinese leadership for supporting peace and ceasefire efforts and acknowledged Beijing’s endorsement of President Xi Jinping’s four-point agenda and five-point support programme following consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministers.

Calling the visit “always a great pleasure”, the prime minister thanked the Chinese leadership for its warm hospitality. “Dear brother and friend, thank you very much for the very warm invitation to visit China,” he said. “Each time we come, we see new changes and major developments.”

At the outset of his remarks, PM Shehbaz also expressed condolences over Friday’s gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s Shanxi province, which killed 82 people. “I express my deepest condolences on the tragic gas explosion in a coal mine,” he said, while conveying solidarity with the affected families.

Referring to bilateral ties, the premier said Pakistan and China were celebrating “75 years of our glorious friendship and diplomatic relations”, adding that the relationship established by the founding leaders of both countries had laid “a strong foundation” that continued to grow stronger.

Earlier, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said both countries had “maintained close communication and coordination, safeguarded common interests and injected positive energy to regional peace”.

He added that China was ready to work with Pakistan for “greater solidarity, traditional friendship, firmly support each other, and keep expanding practical cooperation to deliver more results in building a community with a shared future for the two countries.”

Upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People, PM Shehbaz was accorded a guard of honour. The national anthems of Pakistan and China were played as both leaders stood at the saluting dais and introduced their delegations.

The two sides are expected to witness the exchange of memorandums of understanding and agreements during the visit. PM Shehbaz is also scheduled to meet President Xi later today and attend events marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations.