ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from May 23 to May 26 as Pakistan and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi announced the visit during the weekly media briefing on Friday.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit carries special importance because both countries established diplomatic ties on May 21, 1951.
Andrabi said the visit would help strengthen the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic partnership. He also noted that both countries wanted to expand cooperation in political, economic, and strategic sectors.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Officials from both sides will review bilateral relations and discuss regional and international developments. In addition, the meetings will focus on trade, investment, and long-term strategic cooperation.
PM to Attend Investment Conference in Hangzhou
The prime minister will start his visit in Hangzhou, where he will chair the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference.
The conference aims to promote investment opportunities and strengthen business ties between companies from both countries.
Later, the prime minister will travel to Beijing to attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The event will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Pakistan Rejects India’s Position on Indus Waters Treaty
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office also responded to India’s rejection of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s supplemental award regarding the Indus Waters Treaty.
Andrabi said India’s rejection carried no legal or political value. He stressed that the arbitration mechanism operates under the treaty framework and its decisions remain binding.
Furthermore, Pakistan rejected India’s claim that it could hold the treaty in abeyance. The spokesperson stated that the agreement remains fully valid under international law.
FO Raises Kashmir Human Rights Concerns
The Foreign Office also highlighted the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
During the briefing, Andrabi paid tribute to Kashmiri leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone on their death anniversaries.
He urged the international community to take notice of alleged human rights abuses in the region. Moreover, he called for the release of political prisoners, activists, and civil society leaders in occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan and China have maintained close diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties for decades. Their partnership continues to grow through trade, infrastructure, and regional cooperation initiatives.
