Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday emphasized Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability and de-escalation during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zedong in Islamabad.
The discussion comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, where Pakistan has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to ease the situation. Earlier this week, Pakistan, alongside Turkey and Egypt, played a key role in a coordinated initiative that helped secure a five-day pause in planned US strikes on Iranian energy and power infrastructure, according to officials.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s House, was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi, and senior foreign office officials.
During the talks, Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated China’s continued economic support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0), focusing on agriculture, industrial cooperation, and key infrastructure projects.
He also congratulated Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the successful conclusion of the annual “Two Sessions” in Beijing, and thanked them for their warm wishes on Pakistan Day.
Ambassador Jiang praised Pakistan’s economic resilience and reform efforts, reaffirming China’s continued support in trade and investment. Both sides expressed satisfaction over ongoing cooperation and looked forward to high-level exchanges to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of close coordination on regional and global issues, highlighting the strength of the longstanding Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz also offered Pakistan as a venue for potential negotiations between the United States and Iran, stating that Islamabad was “ready and honoured” to host meaningful and result-oriented talks.
