Shehbaz, Chinese leader reaffirm 'ironclad brotherhood' as Pakistan-China ties mark 75 years

ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday hosted a high-level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng, as both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen the “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” on the occasion of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

The delegation is visiting Pakistan to participate in celebrations marking the milestone anniversary of bilateral ties, which both countries described as being rooted in mutual trust, strategic convergence and long-standing cooperation across political, economic and regional domains.

The meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office was attended by senior Pakistani leadership, including National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.

Welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised what he called the “historic and time-tested” relationship between the two countries, describing it as an “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” that has consistently expanded over the past 75 years.

He conveyed warm greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, while reaffirming Pakistan’s full support for China’s core interests and expressing appreciation for Beijing’s continued backing of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The prime minister lauded the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a “game-changer” for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to advancing the next phase of CPEC, with a focus on agriculture, information technology, industry and the mining sector.

He also expressed anticipation for his upcoming official visit to China, saying it would further strengthen bilateral coordination and open new avenues of cooperation.

On regional affairs, Shehbaz Sharif appreciated China’s “constructive role” in promoting peace and stability in South Asia and the Middle East, reiterating Pakistan’s own commitment to regional harmony and multilateral engagement.

Chinese Vice Chairman Cai Dafeng thanked the Pakistani leadership for the warm reception and extended reciprocal greetings on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He said China remained firmly committed to further strengthening bilateral relations and to advancing the vision of a “China-Pakistan community with a shared future.”

Cai also expressed Beijing’s continued support for Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and said China would work alongside Pakistan to promote global peace and stability.

Both sides described the Pakistan-China relationship as an “ironclad brotherhood” and a key pillar for regional peace, development and strategic stability.