Islamabad, August 21 — Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Wang Yi, currently on an official visit to Pakistan, called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House earlier this evening. The high-level meeting underscored the enduring strength and growing depth of the Pakistan-China relationship.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and senior cabinet members — highlighting the importance accorded by Pakistan to this strategic engagement.
Welcoming Mr. Wang Yi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the Chinese leadership, government, and people for their unwavering support in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national development. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for China on all core issues and reiterated the country’s firm commitment to deepening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, in line with the shared vision of both nations’ leadership and the aspirations of their peoples.
The Prime Minister praised President Xi Jinping’s visionary leadership and his pivotal role in fortifying the “ironclad” friendship between the two nations. Recalling his productive and warm meeting with President Xi in Beijing last year, the Prime Minister expressed keen anticipation for his upcoming visit to Tianjin and Beijing. During the visit, he will attend the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) meeting and take part in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. He also looked forward to engaging with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other senior Chinese leaders to further advance mutual cooperation.
Prime Minister Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s desire to expand bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors, including trade, investment, ICT, agriculture, industrialization, and the development of mines and minerals. He emphasized the strategic importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly Phase-II, as a transformative initiative for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and regional connectivity. He expressed satisfaction over the steady progress in its implementation.
In response, Foreign Minister Wang Yi thanked the Prime Minister for his warm remarks and reaffirmed China’s deep regard for Pakistan as an ironclad friend and trusted all-weather strategic partner. He expressed China’s strong desire to elevate bilateral relations to new heights and commended Pakistan’s firm commitment to protecting its sovereignty and regional stability. Mr. Wang reaffirmed China’s continued cooperation with Pakistan to promote shared goals of peace, development, and regional harmony.
BY: The Times Union
