Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif embarked on a six-day official visit to China on Saturday, leading a delegation of federal ministers and senior officials to the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Summit. The premier’s itinerary includes addressing the SCO summit, attending World War II victory commemorations, and engaging in bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and other global leaders.

Sharif’s trip, spanning August 30 to September 4, underscores the ‘all-weather strategic cooperative partnership’ between Pakistan and China. The visit encompasses a wide range of bilateral issues, including political, economic, and defense cooperation. The Foreign Office highlighted the significance of this visit in maintaining consistent high-level dialogues between the two countries.

The Prime Minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. Sharif’s engagements extend beyond the SCO summit, with planned meetings with Chinese business leaders and corporate executives to explore trade, economic collaboration, and investment prospects. He is also scheduled to address a Pakistan-China Business-to-Business (B2B) Investment Conference in Beijing.

A key focus of the visit is reviewing the progress of Phase-II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), demonstrating the two nations’ commitment to strengthening this crucial economic initiative. Sharif announced his participation in the Tianjin SCO Summit via a social media post, emphasizing the historic nature of his trip.