Trade, investment & other key sectors: PM for expanded cooperation with China

Islamabad: On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan's dedication to deepening ties with China, highlighting the necessity of ongoing political engagement and broadened cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, and other essential domains. Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), visited Sharif, accompanied by a delegation.

Sharif characterized Pakistan-China relations as a "firm, resilient, and ever-present strategic cooperative alliance," emphasizing the bond between the nations stemmed from mutual trust, respect, and profound connections among their peoples.

Emphasizing the significance of persistent political engagement and bilateral exchanges to reinforce bilateral relations, Sharif acknowledged the IDCPC's role in bolstering institutional linkages and promoting collaboration between the two countries' political leadership. He affirmed Pakistan's commitment to collaborating closely with China to advance shared objectives, encompassing trade, investment, connectivity, infrastructure development, information technology, and agricultural modernization.

Liu extended greetings from the Chinese leadership, reiterating Beijing's dedication to strengthening its enduring friendship with Pakistan. He also commended the progress in high-level engagements and party-to-party exchanges, asserting that these interactions would further fortify the longstanding ties between the two nations. The two sides also discussed regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close coordination at bilateral and multilateral platforms.

Later, Sharif hosted a banquet to honor the visiting Chinese dignitary and his delegation.