Shehbaz Sharif arrived in the Chinese city of Hangzhou on Saturday, beginning a four-day official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Zhejiang Vice Governor Xu Wenguang welcomed the premier at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan’s envoy to China Khalil Hashmi were also present on the occasion.
During his stay in Hangzhou, Prime Minister Shehbaz is scheduled to meet Zhejiang Communist Party Secretary Wang Hao and attend a business forum focused on expanding cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).
The premier will also witness the signing of several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), hold meetings with chief executives of leading Chinese firms, and visit the headquarters of Alibaba Group to explore opportunities for greater economic and technological collaboration.
Accompanying the prime minister on the visit are Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and PM’s Adviser Tariq Fatemi.
The Foreign Office earlier stated that the visit, taking place from May 23 to 26, holds special importance as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. Officials said the trip would help reaffirm the longstanding strategic partnership between Islamabad and Beijing while advancing cooperation across political, economic, and regional sectors.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Discussions are likely to focus on CPEC development, trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
In Beijing, the prime minister will also attend a reception organised by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Separately, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ongoing tensions involving the US and Iran were also expected to feature in discussions between Pakistani and Chinese leaders. He noted that both countries had maintained close coordination on developments in the Middle East and peace efforts in the region.