Pakistani Prime Minister Scheduled to Depart for a Six-Day Trip to China, Planned Meetings with President Xi Jinping and Participation in a Regional Summit
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Heads to China for Crucial Visit
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit China from Aug. 30 to Sept. 4, 2025, marking another significant milestone in the country's relations with its closest strategic ally. This visit, the second of the year, will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and reaffirming support on core interests.
The main agenda of the visit includes political, economic, and investment ties, as well as regular consultations on regional and global developments. Prime Minister Sharif will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit in Tianjin, where he will engage in discussions with other regional leaders.
The strong and multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and China includes defense, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, anchored by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). During his visit, Sharif will hold meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss multifaceted aspects of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation.
China is Pakistan's largest investor, and the relationship between the two nations is expected to advance into "CPEC 2.0," focusing on industrialization, agriculture, energy, and connectivity. The visit will also see Prime Minister Sharif addressing a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference in Beijing, where he will interact with Chinese business leaders and corporate executives to discuss trade and investment.
In addition to the SCO summit, Prime Minister Sharif will attend a military parade in Beijing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the World's Anti-Fascist War. The government of Pakistan is encouraging foreign investors to explore manufacturing and other opportunities in the country.
During his previous visit to China in June 2024, Prime Minister Sharif held talks with Xi and Li, toured cultural and educational sites in Xi'an, and announced that 1,000 Pakistani students would receive agricultural training in China. The visit also included meetings with leading Chinese companies in the energy and technology sectors.
The visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China is described as vital to maintaining their "all-weather strategic cooperative partnership." The agenda of the meetings during Sharif's visit will center on strengthening cooperation within the SCO, enhancing regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity, and discussing economic and geopolitical collaboration amid global conflicts.
