BEIJING: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing as Pakistan and China moved to deepen economic cooperation, with talks expected to focus on CPEC Phase-II, trade, investment, agriculture, technology and industrial partnerships.
The visit, taking place from May 23 to 26, comes as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, giving the meeting extra political weight. China’s foreign ministry said Shehbaz was visiting at Li Qiang’s invitation and would also meet President Xi Jinping during the trip.
Before arriving in Beijing, Shehbaz attended a Pakistan-China business conference in Hangzhou, where Pakistani and Chinese companies signed cooperation agreements worth $1.22 billion, according to Reuters.
The Pakistani side is looking to shift CPEC beyond roads and energy into what officials often call its “second phase” — industry, agriculture, technology, business-to-business links and exports. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the visit would review cooperation in political, economic and strategic areas, with special focus on high-quality CPEC development.
Security is likely to remain a sensitive part of the conversation. Beijing has repeatedly pressed Islamabad to improve protection for Chinese workers and projects after militant attacks in Pakistan, particularly around CPEC-linked interests.
For Shehbaz, the Beijing meeting is also about confidence-building. Pakistan badly needs foreign investment, export growth and industrial partnerships, and China remains its most important long-term economic partner. For Beijing, Pakistan is still a key part of the Belt and Road Initiative and a strategic route toward the Arabian Sea.
The visit is expected to produce further announcements on investment, industrial cooperation and CPEC-related projects before Shehbaz returns home.
