Islamabad, October 14 – Pakistan and China signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across various sectors during the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Islamabad, where he was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Premier Li arrived at Noor Khan Airbase for his four-day visit, where he was received with honours, including a floral welcome and a 21-gun salute. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally greeted him and later hosted a luncheon at the Prime Minister’s House in his honour.
A formal welcome ceremony took place at the Prime Minister’s House, featuring the national anthems of both nations and a guard of honour presented to Premier Li by the Pakistani armed forces.
During their meeting, the two leaders engaged in delegation-level talks, discussing a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global issues aimed at reinforcing the Pakistan-China strategic cooperative partnership. They expressed satisfaction with the strengthening ties, rooted in mutual trust and shared principles. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other on core issues and pledged to enhance cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Premier Li and Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the importance of timely completion of ongoing projects, particularly in industrialization, agricultural modernization, information technology, and science and technology. They acknowledged that CPEC cooperation has entered a new phase of development, promising long-term benefits for Pakistan’s socio-economic growth.
Prime Minister Shehbaz assured Premier Li of Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals and projects in the country. The leaders also explored strategies to boost Chinese investment in Pakistan, including relocating Chinese industries to the country.
Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges to bolster bilateral cooperation across all sectors and pledged to continue close consultations on regional and global issues at multilateral forums.
Following their discussions, Pakistan and China signed several MoUs aimed at enhancing cooperation. These agreements are expected to deepen the longstanding relationship between the two nations, particularly in trade, infrastructure, and development projects.
Premier Li Qiang expressed optimism about the future of Pakistan-China relations, emphasizing the enduring friendship between the two countries. “I am pleased to participate in the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting and look forward to deeper exchanges between China and Pakistan through this visit. Pakistan remains committed to its reform and development efforts,” he stated, referring to Pakistan as China’s “iron brother.”
