Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for a historic visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Meeting in Tianjin. The premier is also scheduled to attend the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Fascism in World War II in Beijing.
During the visit, he will meet with President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to enhance regional cooperation, strengthen multilateralism, and advance shared goals for peace and prosperity.
“I look forward to meeting HE President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to further build upon our bilateral ties with China, our All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partner, as well as with other key countries of the region, enhance regional cooperation, strengthen multilateralism, and advance shared goals for peace and prosperity,” PM Shehbaz wrote in a post on X.
The prime minister is also set to meet Premier Li Qiang and participate in a military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the Anti-Fascist War in Beijing, alongside President Xi and other global leaders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that the prime minister is also scheduled to interact with leading Chinese businessmen and executives to enhance trade, investment, and economic ties, and will address the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Adviser to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the premier. The Foreign Office said the visit is part of high-level exchanges aimed at deepening the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and maintaining regular communication on key regional and global issues.
The important three-day 25th meeting of the SCO Heads of States is scheduled for August 31, September 1, and 2. A Chinese foreign ministry official said last week that this year’s summit will be the largest since the SCO was founded in 2001, calling the bloc an “important force in building a new type of international relations.”
Among the attendees at the SCO summit, which will take place in the northern port city of Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, will be Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian PM Narendra Modi, along with leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The theme of this year’s meeting will be “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.” The annual event is expected to focus on key discussions regarding regional security, economic cooperation, trade, and the SCO’s long-term strategic direction.
The security-focused bloc, which began as a group of six Eurasian nations, has since expanded to 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer countries. Its scope has also broadened from security and counter-terrorism to include economic and military cooperation.
In a separate post on X, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan’s all-weather strategic partnership with China is anchored in trust and strategic alignment, and they value President Xi Jinping’s leadership and initiatives such as the Belt and Road, as well as the Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives.
He noted that the SCO has become a crucial Eurasian platform, promoting cooperation in security, trade, energy, connectivity, and culture. In today’s multipolar world, he added, the SCO’s role in strengthening multilateralism, stability, and inclusive growth is more vital than ever. Dar said that Pakistan looks forward to constructive high-level engagements with the Chinese leadership and other SCO member states during the summit.
