PM Shehbaz Strengthens Pakistan’s Ties with SCO Leaders

APP

Tianjin: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended the reception for world leaders participating in the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting in Tianjin, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed PM Shehbaz and other global dignitaries.

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, the Prime Minister held informal meetings with President Vladimir Putin, PM Anwar Ibrahim, President Alexander Lukashenko, President Ilham Aliyev, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Emomali Rahmon, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, President Sadyr Japarov, President Mohamed Muizzu, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The interactions highlighted Pakistan’s strong bilateral relations and growing international stature.

In a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both leaders praised the momentum in Pakistan-Turkiye ties, including political, economic, defense, and security cooperation. Erdogan expressed condolences over the ongoing floods in Pakistan and reaffirmed Turkiye’s solidarity with the Pakistani people. The leaders also voiced concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing their commitment to advocating for Palestinian rights.

PM Shehbaz Sharif addressed students and faculty at Tianjin University, urging Pakistani students to gain advanced knowledge and technology to contribute to Pakistan’s progress. He highlighted Pakistan-China historic ties, noting milestones such as the first PIA flight to Beijing, the Karakoram Highway, and over 30,000 Pakistani students currently studying in China.

The Prime Minister lauded China’s rapid development under President Xi Jinping, including lifting 800 million people out of poverty, and emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to anti-corruption, poverty eradication, and youth empowerment. He also highlighted initiatives sending 1,000 agriculture graduates to China to learn modern techniques.

PM Shehbaz concluded that Pakistan and China share a strategic partnership built on mutual trust, education, and long-term cooperation, and encouraged Pakistani youth to leverage these opportunities for national development.