Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Tuesday, reaffirmed their strong resolve to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and senior officials from both sides.
Congratulating President Xi on successfully hosting the SCO Heads of State Summit, PM Shehbaz lauded his leadership and vision, saying, “Pakistan is very proud of China’s achievements and will always be ready to work with China on this great journey.” He also extended felicitations on the 80th anniversary of the “World Anti-Fascist War.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the premier underscored the importance of moving into its second phase under the framework of President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
He reiterated Islamabad’s full support for China’s global initiatives, including the Global Development, Global Security, Global Governance, and Global Solarisation Initiatives, which he said would contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity at the regional and international level.
President Xi, for his part, assured that Beijing would continue to stand by Pakistan, with a special focus on supporting its key economic sectors. He highlighted that the CPEC had now entered its second phase and expressed confidence that Pakistan would take effective measures to ensure the security of Chinese personnel and projects.
Both leaders also discussed regional and global developments, agreeing to enhance cooperation in multilateral forums. Prime Minister Shehbaz renewed his invitation to President Xi to undertake a state visit to Pakistan next year.
