Shehbaz backs Xi's global initiatives, partnership

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized Pakistan's commitment to nurturing its strategic partnership with China, describing the relationship as built on mutual trust and deep ties between their peoples. On Wednesday, Pakistan and China celebrated the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The prime minister expressed his felicitations to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people, stating that China's development and contributions to global peace inspired countries worldwide, including Pakistan.

He endorsed President Xi Jinping's Global Development, Global Security, Global Civilization, and Global Governance Initiatives, describing them as key pillars for a shared future for humanity.

Shehbaz highlighted the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Pakistan's transition to the next phase, CPEC 2.0, focusing on industrialization, special economic zones, information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, and mines and minerals. Progress in agricultural cooperation was particularly emphasized, with the first 1,000 Pakistani agriculture graduates completing their training in China, and another 1,000 soon to follow.

Pakistan-China relations are described as the anchor of Pakistan's foreign policy, nurtured by successive leaders. The prime minister emphasized Pakistan's ongoing commitment to implementing the consensus reached with China for mutual benefit. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, described the relationship as all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad brothers, welcoming the growing resilience and vitality of Pakistan's economy under Shehbaz's leadership.

The ambassador highlighted the expansion of bilateral trade and agricultural trade, as well as plans for cooperation in industry, agriculture, mining, and other fields, including health, education, climate change, and defense.