ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to embark on a nearly weeklong visit to China from August 30 to September 4, where he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and hold high-level talks with the Chinese leadership.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Friday, the visit comes at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. During his stay, the Prime Minister will meet both President Xi and Premier Li Qiang, with discussions expected to cover a wide range of issues related to Pakistan-China cooperation.
Shehbaz will also attend a military parade in Beijing alongside President Xi and other world leaders, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The Foreign Office said the Prime Minister will engage with leading Chinese businessmen and corporate executives, and will also deliver an address at the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing, aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment ties.
Diplomatic observers view the trip as an important opportunity to reinforce the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Islamabad and Beijing. Talks are likely to focus on advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and ensuring regular communication on key regional and global developments.
Regional and Strategic Context
This will be Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to China since the Pakistan-India conflict in May, triggered by the Pahalgam attack. The confrontation saw Pakistan claim the downing of six Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafales, with the support of Chinese-supplied military hardware. The incident significantly bolstered China’s reputation in global defense circles, as analysts noted the performance of its technology against Western-made systems.
The timing of the visit is also crucial given the shifting geopolitical landscape. While Pakistan’s relations with the United States have witnessed a notable upswing in recent months, India’s ties with Washington have hit new turbulence. Despite these changes, both Islamabad and Beijing have underlined that their partnership remains unaffected.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently visited New Delhi for the first time in three years and is also scheduled to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the SCO summit. However, during subsequent stops in Kabul and Islamabad, Wang Yi reiterated that China’s relationship with Pakistan remains “rock solid.”
Diplomatic insiders suggest Shehbaz’s visit will serve to reaffirm Pakistan’s strategic alignment with Beijing, while also ensuring that Islamabad’s growing engagement with Washington does not cast any shadow over its ties with China.
