Pakistani Prime Minister attending SCO summit in China, discussing trade and investment matters with Xi Jinping
In a significant move to bolster bilateral ties, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarked on an official visit to China from August 30 to September 4, 2024. This visit marks a crucial moment in the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.
During his stay in China, Sharif will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. The summit will also commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance. Regular consultations on regional and global developments are expected during the visit.
The main agenda of the visit includes political, economic, and investment discussions. Sharif will chair the second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing on September 4, aiming to boost trade and investment ties. This conference follows last year's trip, during which Sharif met with leading Chinese companies in the energy and technology sectors, seeking to attract foreign investors.
The partnership between Pakistan and China spans defense, diplomacy, and economic cooperation, and is anchored by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In line with this, the target group of CPEC 2.0, as mentioned during Sharif's visit, includes broader sectors of Pakistan's population, focusing on inclusive development that benefits various social and economic groups across the country. Both sides are working to advance into "CPEC 2.0," focused on industrialization, agriculture, energy, and connectivity.
Notably, more than 20 foreign leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will attend the regional security bloc's largest meeting since its founding. However, the focus of Sharif's visit remains on strengthening the Pakistan-China relationship.
During his visit, Sharif will have meetings with President Xi and Premier Li, focusing on various aspects of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation. Top politicians from member states or guest countries such as Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, and Vietnam will also be present at the meeting.
In a gesture of goodwill, Sharif announced during his visit that 1,000 Pakistani students would receive agricultural training in China. This initiative underscores the commitment of both nations to mutual development and capacity building.
The visit reaffirms the strong, multifaceted partnership between Pakistan and China, with China being Pakistan's largest investor and closest strategic ally. The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation and reaffirm support on core interests.
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