PM ends China visit after high-level meetings, diplomatic anniversary events
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departs China after concluding his four-day official visit. PHOTO: PMO
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday concluded his four-day official visit to China and departed for Pakistan after a series of high-level engagements in Beijing, including events marking the 75th anniversary of Pakistan–China diplomatic relations.
Before departing, PM Shehbaz gave an address during a special ceremony attended by senior Chinese leadership, including Vice President Han Zheng, members of the Pakistani delegation, and other dignitaries. The prime minister highlighted the historic depth and resilience of bilateral ties.
He said Pakistan should learn from China’s development journey, stating that the world “should learn from China’s enviable journey of overcoming development challenges, poverty, unemployment, diseases, and other obstacles.”
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف نے پاک۔چین سفارتی تعلقات کی 75 ویں سالگرہ کے حوالے سے بیجنگ میں منعقدہ خصوصی تقریب میں شرکت کی.
وزیرِ اعظم نے اپنے خطاب میں کہا کہ سخت محنت اور مسلسل کوششوں سے پاکستان میں ترقی کے لیے چین کا معاشی ماڈل اپنانے کے عزم کا اظہار کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے کہ چین… pic.twitter.com/ejys4ecYPSDescribing the relationship between the two countries, he said, “The roots of the tree of Pakistan-China friendship are very deep—it has weathered storms, provided shade, and borne very sweet fruits.”
He added that both countries share responsibility to further strengthen the partnership for future generations, saying, “It is our shared responsibility to nurture its new branches so that future generations inherit a legacy of relations even stronger than our ancestors could have imagined.”
During the ceremony, PM Shehbaz and Vice President Han Zheng also jointly cut a cake to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President of China Mr. Han Zheng cutting cake to celebrate 75 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relationships. Beijing 26 May, 2026 pic.twitter.com/Vx4AoMoeKb
According to a statement shared by the Prime Minister’s Office on X, the visit was “successfully concluded” after the completion of official meetings and engagements.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has departed for the homeland after successfully concluding his visit to China,” the statement said.
بیجنگ: 26 مئی 2026.
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کا چین کا چار روزہ دورہ مکمل ہوگیا. وزیراعظم شہباز شریف چین کا کامیاب دورہ مکمل کرنے کے بعد وطن روانہ ہوگئے.
چینی وزارتِ خارجہ کی نائب وزیر اور چین- سی ای ای سی تعاون سیکریٹریٹ کی سیکریٹری جنرل ہوا چون ینگ نے وزیراعظم شہباز شریف کو… pic.twitter.com/LTKGn1sqpdAt the conclusion of the visit, Deputy Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of the China-CPEC Secretariat, Hua Chunying, saw off the Prime Minister in Beijing.
The visit included discussions aimed at strengthening Pakistan–China cooperation, particularly in economic and strategic areas under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Earlier in the day, Sharif held a series of high-level meetings with leading Chinese enterprises, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to deepening economic, industrial, and infrastructure cooperation under the framework of CPEC Phase II, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
The PMO said the prime minister first met with a delegation from FAMSUN, led by CEO Mr Zhengjun Chen. He appreciated FAMSUN's "longstanding contribution to Pakistan's agriculture sector, particularly in grain storage, feed production, and food security".
PM Shehbaz emphasised Pakistan's "focus on reducing post-harvest losses" and invited FAMSUN to "establish manufacturing and technology transfer facilities in Pakistan" under the incentives available through Special Economic Zones and the Green Pakistan Initiative.
Beijing: 26 May 2026.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese business delegations.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of high-level meetings with leading Chinese enterprises, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic, industrial,… pic.twitter.com/bBA4GxLNkIIn a separate meeting, He met with Chairman Hou Jianxin and the delegation of Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation and welcomed the Group’s "expanding footprint in Pakistan across maritime development, battery manufacturing, mineral processing, and industrial cooperation".
He appreciated Xinxu Group's role in advancing the Xinxu Special Economic Zone, the Sea-to-Steel project at Port Qasim, and investments in Gwadar and the northern mineral sectors. The prime minister reaffirmed the government's "full support for these strategic projects" and encouraged "accelerated implementation under CPEC Phase II".
Read: China's Xi hails 'unbreakable' Pakistan ties, praises Iran peace efforts
The prime minister also met with Mr Zhang Bingnan, Chairman of China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC), and senior representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). He highly appreciated the companies' "over six decades of contribution to Pakistan's infrastructure development," citing landmark projects such as the Karakoram Highway and the Rashakai Special Economic Zone.
He reiterated Pakistan's commitment to "fast-tracking priority infrastructure projects including ML-1, KKH realignment, and other connectivity initiatives under CPEC," emphasising that Pakistan values CCCC and CRBC as "long-term strategic partners in infrastructure modernization and regional connectivity".
The Chinese companies reaffirmed their confidence in Pakistan's economic potential and expressed strong interest in expanding investments across agriculture, industrial manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure, and technology sectors.
Senior ministers and government officials accompanied the prime minister in all three meetings and were instructed to ensure "rigorous and timely follow-up of the decisions taken".
The prime minister is in China on a four-day visit from May 23-26. The visit is expected to highlight a new chapter in the 75-year-old China-Pakistan relationship, which has long been recognised for mutual trust and enduring cooperation despite changing international circumstances, according to a commentary published on China's CGTN website.
Read More: PM Shehbaz meets Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, reaffirms commitment to CPEC
On Sunday, Pakistani and Chinese companies signed MoUs worth more than $7 billion during a series of high-level engagements led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.
A major agreement signed during the conference on Sunday included a $1.12 billion deal between Haolu Engineering and Technology Company and Fauji Fertiliser for fertiliser production. Another MoU worth $100 million was signed between IBI Beijing United Information Technology and the RIC for cooperation in agrochemicals, agricultural machinery, and the establishment of a regional office in Multan.
Officials said more than 200 MoUs worth over $20 billion had now been signed during the five Pakistan-China business conferences held so far.
Again on Monday, Sharif, this time alongside the Chinese Premier Li Qiang, witnessed the signing and exchange of several agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), protocols, and cooperation documents in Beijing.
These covered a wide range of sectors. In agriculture, both sides signed a Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Dried Fruits and Nuts, a Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Maize, an MoU on Strengthening Development Cooperation in the Agriculture Sector, and a Letter of Exchange on Animal Vaccines.