ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Friday officially announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a four-day official visit to China from May 23 to 26 to strengthen bilateral cooperation and strategic ties between the two countries.
Speaking during the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the visit is taking place at the invitation of the Chinese government and carries special importance as Pakistan and China celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
According to the FO spokesperson, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold high-level meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the visit. The discussions are expected to focus on political, economic, trade, and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
Andrabi said the visit would provide an opportunity for both nations to reaffirm the strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic partnership and further deepen cooperation in multiple sectors, including investment, infrastructure, and regional connectivity.
The prime minister is scheduled to begin his visit from Hangzhou city in Zhejiang province, where he will chair the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference aimed at promoting trade and business partnerships between companies of both countries.
During the Beijing leg of the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend a special reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The FO spokesperson stated that the visit is expected to strengthen political trust, strategic coordination, and economic collaboration while consolidating the decades-old friendship between Islamabad and Beijing.
During the briefing, Tahir Andrabi also commented on India’s rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s supplemental award regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). He maintained that India’s rejection carried “no political or legal value” and stressed that the treaty remains fully in force despite India’s objections.
The spokesperson further urged the international community to take notice of alleged human rights abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir and called for accountability regarding the treatment of Kashmiri political leaders and activists.
When asked about reports regarding a possible high-level Pakistani delegation visiting Iran, Andrabi said the Foreign Office could neither confirm nor deny such reports, adding that Pakistan’s leadership remains in contact with Iranian authorities on regional developments.
