- FO spox says visit aims to strengthen Pak-China strategic partnership.
- Both sides will review political, economic, and strategic ties, says FO.
- PM Shehbaz to chair Pakistan-China business conference, adds FO spox.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from May 23-26, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Friday.
Addressing a weekly press briefing, the spokesperson said the premier is visiting the brotherly country at the invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz will hold key meetings with Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Andrabi added.
The prime minister will also chair a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Conference and attend a reception ceremony in Beijing.
Andrabi said that the visit will play an important role in further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
“The visit will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic partnership and advance a shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community of a shared future,” Andrabi said.
“The two sides will review bilateral relations, cooperation in political, economic, and strategic domains,” the spokesman added.
He said that Pakistan and China have recently marked the completion of 75 years of diplomatic relations with official-level celebrations. Andrabi added that both countries have supported each other in every difficult time over the past 75 years.
The spokesperson said that the relationship has expanded beyond diplomacy into strong partnerships in trade, industry, education, and people-to-people contacts.
Andrabi said that on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations, Pakistan and China are reaffirming their “everlasting friendship” and commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
A day earlier, PM Shehbaz said that China has consistently stood with Pakistan with steadfast support through thick and thin, and the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger over time.
“China has stood like a rock with Pakistan in every difficult time,” said PM Shehbaz while addressing in Islamabad held on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations.
He recalled that Pakistan was the first Islamic country to recognise China, adding that the event celebrating Chinese friendship was a source of great joy.
Separately, the government has decided to issue a commemorative Rs75 coin to mark the 75th anniversary. The coin will be available to the public from May 25 through exchange counters at the field offices of the SBP Banking Services Corporation. Pakistan and China formally established diplomatic relations on May 21, 1951.
