BEIJING: Xi Jinping on Monday hailed Beijing’s “unbreakable” friendship with Pakistan as he met Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, with both sides seeking to deepen their “all-weather” partnership.
PM Shehbaz arrived in China on Saturday for a four-day official visit and reached Beijing on Sunday after an earlier stop in Hangzhou.
Addressing bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People, Xi said China was ready to work with Pakistan to build an even closer shared future and strengthen cooperation across various sectors.
“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.
Calling PM Shehbaz an “old friend”, the Chinese president said both countries had “understood, trusted and supported each other” over decades, creating what he described as an “unbreakable tradition of friendship”.
“Despite international changes, China has always prioritised Pakistan relations in our neighbourhood diplomacy,” Xi added.
Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff, who recently concluded a visit to Iran, was also present during the meeting.
Referring to Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Xi told Munir: “I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts to mediate for peace. We appreciate the constructive role of Pakistan.”
Following the ceasefire reached in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran in April, Pakistan has remained engaged in diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, while the United States has also reported progress in negotiations with Iran.
Xi further praised Pakistani students studying in China, saying they were helping strengthen bilateral ties and friendship between the two countries.
“Our strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation have greatly contributed to our respective development,” the Chinese president said.
In response, PM Shehbaz described Pakistan and China as “iron brothers” with a relationship that was “next to none”. He also called Xi a “great friend of Pakistan and a great friend of peace-loving humanity”.
Highlighting 75 years of diplomatic relations, the prime minister credited the leadership of both countries’ founding fathers for laying a strong foundation for the partnership.
“The credit goes to our founding fathers who worked very hard to build this relationship over the last more than seven decades,” he said.
PM Shehbaz assured Xi that Islamabad and Beijing would continue to strengthen ties in the future and noted that both countries had planned year-long celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
He praised Xi’s leadership, saying China had emerged not only as a major economic power but also as a force promoting peace and multilateralism around the world.
The premier also commended Xi’s vision through the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, calling him a “towering figure around the globe”.
“I draw a lot of strength from your leadership,” PM Shehbaz remarked, while noting that Pakistan had introduced significant structural reforms but still had more work ahead.
Later, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office described the meeting as “most warm and cordial”, taking place amid celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China.
According to the statement, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed that the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
He said the “iron-clad friendship” between the two countries had gained greater strategic importance in the changing regional and global environment.
The statement added that PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s support for China’s core interests, including the One China Principle, while appreciating Beijing’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic stability and national development.
The prime minister also praised Xi’s role in the development of Zhejiang province, where the Chinese president had served as governor between 2002 and 2007.
PM Shehbaz further appreciated Xi’s four-point proposal for regional peace and said Pakistan-China friendship remained a stabilising factor amid global uncertainty.
He also commended Xi’s major global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilisation Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.
The prime minister pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation further and stressed the importance of aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative to expand collaboration in industrialisation, connectivity, agriculture, science and technology, clean energy and digital transformation.
He also highlighted the selection of Pakistani astronauts for China’s space station programme as a reflection of growing cooperation in strategic sectors.
“Both leaders agreed to carry forward the historic legacy of Pakistan-China friendship and transform the 75th anniversary into a new phase of strategic, practical and future-oriented cooperation,” the PMO statement said.
Apart from PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Munir, Ishaq Dar and several senior ministers and officials also attended the meeting.
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, where he stressed the need for Pakistan and China to work together to restore peace in the Middle East.
Speaking during delegation-level talks at the Great Hall of the People, the prime minister said the world was passing through a critical moment and that the Middle East conflict had impacted both the regional and global economy.
“I think we have to really be together, so that the world at large is at peace and business as usual starts again,” he said.
The premier said Pakistan had played a sincere role in mediating between the United States and Iran and noted that Field Marshal Munir had just returned from Tehran after engaging with both Iranian and American leaderships.
“And he didn’t want to miss this great visit,” PM Shehbaz added.
The prime minister also referred to diplomatic engagements carried out by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and expressed hope that peace efforts were moving in the right direction.
He thanked Xi and the Chinese leadership for supporting Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace and achieve a ceasefire, saying Islamabad fully endorsed Xi’s four-point peace agenda.
At the start of his address, PM Shehbaz thanked the Chinese leadership for the warm welcome and praised China’s rapid development and transformation.
He also extended condolences over the deadly coal mine gas explosion in Shanxi, which claimed at least 82 lives.
The premier said the visit came at a critical moment as both countries celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations established by their founding fathers.
“They did a great job, they laid a strong foundation, a strong edifice between our two countries and here we are, trying to take that legacy and moving in that direction,” he said.
A separate official statement said both leaders reiterated support for each other’s core interests and agreed that CPEC had played a transformative role in Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
The two sides also reviewed cooperation in political, economic, security and people-to-people sectors and agreed to further deepen collaboration.
PM Shehbaz stressed the importance of turning the 75th anniversary celebrations into practical and people-centred outcomes while emphasising regular high-level exchanges.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the high-quality development of CPEC, with focus on industrialisation, agriculture, connectivity, digital transformation, clean energy and science and technology.
The statement added that PM Shehbaz appreciated China’s continued support for Pakistan’s economy and development and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan.
He also highlighted cooperation in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, space and advanced technologies.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination and advance Pakistan-China cooperation into a new phase of practical and high-quality partnership.
Separately, state-run Pakistan Television reported that PM Shehbaz and Premier Li witnessed the signing and exchange of 15 memoranda of understanding, protocols and cooperation agreements covering trade, investment, climate change, agriculture, science and technology, media, education and people-to-people exchanges.
According to Associated Press of Pakistan, the agreements included MoUs on economic development cooperation, environmental and climate cooperation, agriculture, human resource development and free trade.
Protocols related to the export of dried fruits, nuts and maize to China were also signed, along with agreements on counterterrorism equipment cooperation, documentary co-production, scientific exchanges and institutional collaboration between educational and diplomatic academies of both countries.
PM Shehbaz was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People, where the national anthems of Pakistan and China were played before both leaders introduced their delegations.
During his stay in Beijing, the prime minister is also scheduled to attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
So far during his visit, PM Shehbaz has focused on enhancing cooperation in business, investment and technology sectors. Earlier in Hangzhou, Pakistan and China signed agreements and MoUs reportedly worth billions of dollars following meetings with major Chinese firms, including Alibaba Group.
On Sunday, the premier also highlighted four key areas for future cooperation while addressing a business forum.