PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit China from May 23-26: FO Spokesperson

ISLAMABAD, May 22 (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26 at the invitation of the Chinese government, as the two countries celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Announcing the visit at the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the visit carried special significance as Pakistan and China commemorated 75 years of their enduring friendship and strategic partnership founded on mutual trust, respect and shared aspirations.

The spokesperson said the visit would provide an opportunity for both sides to reaffirm the strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and advance their shared vision of building an even closer community with a shared future.

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

The leadership-level engagements will review bilateral cooperation in political, economic and strategic fields, with particular focus on trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agricultural modernisation, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

The prime minister will begin his visit from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, where he will chair the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference focusing on information technology, telecom, energy, energy storage and agriculture sectors.

In Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz will attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in connection with the 75th anniversary celebrations.

The spokesperson said the visit was expected to further deepen political trust, enhance strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation between the two friendly countries.

To a question, he said Iran and US issue would also be discussed during the visit but the primary focus of the visit will be about the bilateral relations.

The spokesperson noted that a Chinese delegation led by Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress, had also arrived in Islamabad on May 20 to participate in commemorative activities marking the anniversary.

The delegation called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended a ceremony held in Islamabad to celebrate the milestone in bilateral relations.

Describing Pakistan-China relations as a unique example of unwavering solidarity and fraternity in interstate relations, the spokesperson said both countries had consistently supported each other through challenges over the past seven and a half decades.

Pakistan and China established diplomatic relations on May 21, 1951, and their partnership has since expanded across multiple sectors, including economy, defence, infrastructure and regional connectivity under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Referring to regional developments, the spokesperson said Pakistan had condemned the recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and expressed full solidarity with the two brotherly countries.

He termed any deliberate targeting of nuclear facilities a grave violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, the United Nations Charter and the principles of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressing that nuclear installations must never be targeted under any circumstances.

On Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson said Pakistan paid tribute to martyred Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone on their martyrdom anniversaries observed on May 21.

He said Pakistan also remembered the 70 innocent Kashmiris who were martyred while carrying the coffin of Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq in 1990.

The spokesperson urged the international community and the United Nations to take cognisance of the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and ensure a just settlement of the dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.

Replying to a question, he expressed concern over politically motivated cases against Hurriyat leaders, including Yasin Malik, and called for the release of Kashmiri political prisoners and human rights defenders.

On the Indus Waters Treaty, the spokesperson said Pakistan welcomed the supplemental award issued by the Court of Arbitration on May 15 regarding the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects.

He said the award reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding position that the treaty imposed substantive limits on India’s water control capabilities on the western rivers and clarified that operational assumptions for run-of-the-river projects must be realistic, evidence-based and supported by technical data.

Pakistan, he added, remained firmly committed to the Indus Waters Treaty and its dispute resolution mechanisms, while safeguarding its rights under the treaty.

Replying to a question regarding Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace efforts between Iran and the United States, the spokesperson said the peace process was a matter of national importance for Pakistan. He said the prime minister, the DPM/FM, Chief of Defence Forces, and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had remained at the forefront of efforts aimed at promoting peace and dialogue in the region.

He said Pakistan was united in its commitment to peace and urged against unnecessary speculation on the matter.

Responding to a query regarding progress on Chinese-funded projects in Pakistan, the spokesperson said work on all such projects was continuing uninterrupted. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ensuring the security of all foreign nationals in the country, particularly Chinese citizens.

On the issue of deportation of Pakistani nationals from the United Arab Emirates, the spokesperson rejected reports of mass deportations, describing them as isolated incidents. He said around 2,000 to 3,000 Pakistanis had been deported, which was a very small number considering the large Pakistani community residing in the UAE.

He said Pakistan had already taken up the matter with the UAE authorities and remained engaged through bilateral channels to address any unjustified incidents.

Commenting on Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan, the spokesperson said ties were facing challenges primarily due to Pakistan’s concerns over the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.