BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s official visit to Pakistan aims to enhance traditional friendship, strengthen strategic communication, and expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Monday.
Through this visit, China seeks to collaborate with Pakistan to deepen their traditional friendship, reinforce strategic ties, and accelerate the building of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. The goal is to jointly promote regional peace, development, and prosperity, said Mao Ning during her regular briefing.
Premier Li Qiang will be in Pakistan from October 14 to 17 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The spokesperson emphasized that China and Pakistan are “ironclad friends” and “all-weather strategic cooperative partners,” noting that their relationship has stood the test of time and remains strong.
Mao highlighted that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited China in June, and both sides have actively worked to implement the important agreements reached by their leaders, maintaining a positive momentum in bilateral relations.
This visit marks Li Qiang’s first trip to Pakistan since taking office and signifies an important exchange of visits at the head-of-government level within a year, which is crucial for deepening their strategic partnership.
During his visit, Premier Li will also participate in the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad.