China congratulates Shehbaz on election as PM

Spokesperson says the two countries are all-weather strategic and comprehensive cooperation partners

China has congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the new prime minister of Pakistan and said it was looking forward to working with him to continue traditional friendship, deepen all-round cooperation and advance a high-quality building of the CPEC to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in new era.

“We congratulate Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the prime minister of Pakistan,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

He said China and Pakistan were all-weather strategic and comprehensive cooperation partners with “rock solid and unbreakable relations”.

“China looks forward to working together with the Pakistani side carrying on our traditional friendship, resolutely supporting each other, deepening cooperation in various areas, and building a high quality CPEC to build an even closer China-Pak community of shared future in the new era,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Chinese Charge d’ Affaires Pang Chunxue paid a courtesy call on Shehbaz at the Prime Minister’s House.

She conveyed warm felicitations and good wishes of the Chinese government and leadership on the assumption of office by the premier.

The charge d’ affaires emphasised that Shehbaz was viewed as a committed friend of China and enjoyed great respect and admiration in her country.

Shehbaz, leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, was sworn in as the 23rd prime minister on Monday after securing 174 votes from the 342-seat assembly, officially taking over from former premier Imran Khan, who lost a no-confidence vote on Sunday.

With input from APP