From 4 to 8 June 2024, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a five-day state visit to China. On June 11, he referred to the trip as a success and announced the visit of a high-ranking Chinese delegation to Pakistan soon.
The prime minister told the cabinet members that the collective efforts of his delegation were a great opportunity to strengthen Pakistan-China bilateral relations. He said that despite the security issue highlighted during the talks, the visit ended on a “positive note”.
The Prime Minister thanked all members of his cabinet, especially Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Musaddik Malik and Shaza Fatima Khawaja, for their efforts that led to the success of the negotiations. He expressed confidence that these efforts will lead to the materialization of the second stage of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
On June 7 in Beijing, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was received by President Xi Jinping. During the talks, the “consensus on the high-quality development of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and timely completion of major projects” was reaffirmed.
The Prime Minister briefed President Xi on Pakistan’s intentions to reform the economy to achieve sustainable growth with industrial development, agricultural modernization and regional connectivity as priorities, in which CPEC plays a very important role. The meeting between the two leaders took place in the Great Hall of the People.
The Prime Minister thanked President Xi Jinping for the warm and elegant welcome and recalled President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan in 2015 when the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was officially launched, “marking a new chapter in the relationship bilateral”.
The two leaders reaffirmed “Strategic cooperation partnership in all conditions” and expressed their determination to develop cooperation in various fields, from politics and security to economy, trade and interpersonal ties.
They exchanged views on regional and global developments, more specifically regarding Afghanistan, Palestine and South Asia. The issue of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, a region illegally occupied by India, was also addressed.
The Prime Minister emphasized Pakistan’s commitment and full support for the safety and security of Chinese citizens, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
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Xi Jinping Meets with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif