PM Shehbaz Leaves for China on Four-Day Visit Marking 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations

By Sardar Burhan :

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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for a four-day official visit to China on Saturday, as Islamabad and Beijing prepare to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations and expand cooperation across trade, technology, infrastructure and regional security.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Pakistani delegation accompanying the premier includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and the prime minister’s adviser Tariq Fatemi.

The visit, scheduled from May 23 to 26, is being viewed as one of the most significant high-level engagements between the two countries this year, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Beijing.

Pakistan and China established formal diplomatic relations in 1951 and have since developed one of the closest strategic partnerships in the region. Both countries frequently describe their ties as an “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership”, with cooperation spanning defence, infrastructure, energy, trade and regional diplomacy.

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Officials said the meetings would focus on strengthening political coordination and accelerating cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, commonly known as CPEC.

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The Foreign Office said both sides would review collaboration in several areas, including trade, industrial development, agriculture, information technology, science and technology, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

A major focus of the visit is expected to be the next phase of CPEC projects, which Pakistani officials describe as increasingly centred on industrialisation, technology transfer and economic modernisation rather than large-scale infrastructure construction alone.

The prime minister is scheduled to begin his engagements in Hangzhou, where he will chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference aimed at attracting Chinese investment into Pakistan’s economy.

Hangzhou, widely regarded as one of China’s leading technology and innovation hubs, is home to several major Chinese technology companies and advanced manufacturing industries. Pakistani officials hope the visit will help encourage investment in digital infrastructure, information technology and industrial cooperation.

In Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz will attend a special reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Diplomatic observers say the visit comes at an important time for Pakistan as Islamabad seeks to strengthen economic partnerships, attract foreign investment and deepen regional cooperation amid ongoing global economic uncertainty and tensions in the Middle East.

The trip also takes place against the backdrop of increasing regional diplomacy linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan and China had maintained close coordination on peace efforts related to the Middle East crisis.

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Speaking during a weekly briefing, Andrabi said discussions between the Pakistani and Chinese leadership would likely include the evolving security situation in the region and diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further escalation.

He referred to Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s recent visit to China, during which both countries agreed on a five-point principle regarding regional peace and stability.

Analysts say Pakistan is increasingly relying on closer economic and strategic coordination with China as it navigates regional security challenges and domestic economic pressures. China remains Pakistan’s largest bilateral investor and a key development partner through Belt and Road Initiative projects.

Officials in Islamabad believe the latest visit could lead to new agreements in sectors such as renewable energy, telecommunications, agriculture and industrial cooperation, while also reinforcing political trust between the two longtime allies.

The Foreign Office said the visit was expected to deepen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation and further consolidate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China.

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