Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China making it his first visit to the country after assuming office this year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning’s in a regular press conference said that during his visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji will meet or have talks with him.

“The leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-Pakistan relations and issues of mutual interest, and jointly draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations. In addition to Beijing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Guangdong and Shaanxi,” the statement reads.

China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends.

Sino-Pak friendship steady as Mount Tai

“Our friendship has stood the test of time and remained rock-solid and—to use a Chinese expression—“steady as Mount Tai,”

“Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China and Pakistan have in recent years had close high-level exchanges, steadily advanced practical cooperation, conducted fruitful and high-quality cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and maintained sound communication and coordination in international and regional affairs,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

All-weather strategic partnership

China stands ready to work with Pakistan through this visit to make greater progress in our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and take new steps in the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.