PM Shehbaz, Liu Haixing discuss stronger bilateral ties

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding political cooperation and deepening strategic ties during a series of high-level meetings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Senior Chinese official Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House on Monday. The discussions focused on bilateral cooperation, regional security and international developments.

During the meeting, Haixing appreciated the growing momentum in high-level exchanges and cooperation between the ruling parties of both countries. He said continued political engagement would further strengthen the longstanding friendship between Islamabad and Beijing.

The Chinese dignitary also conveyed greetings from his country’s leadership and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to expanding its partnership with Pakistan.

Welcoming Haixing and his delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz described Pakistan-China relations as an ironclad, time-tested and all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. He said the friendship was built on mutual trust, respect and strong people-to-people connections.

The prime minister acknowledged the IDCPC’s contribution to strengthening institutional and political links between the two countries. He stressed that regular leadership-level contacts and exchanges between political parties were important for maintaining close bilateral relations.

Shehbaz also highlighted opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, connectivity, information technology and agricultural modernisation. He reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to work closely with China across these sectors.

The prime minister later hosted a dinner in honour of the visiting Chinese official and his delegation.

Earlier, Haixing also met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting covered bilateral relations, matters of mutual interest and changing regional and international security dynamics.

Both sides expressed their commitment to further strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.

Field Marshal Munir highlighted the historic ties between the two countries and emphasised the need for sustained high-level engagement, stronger institutional connections and broader cooperation in areas of shared interest.

Haixing appreciated Pakistan’s contributions towards regional peace and stability and expressed confidence in further advancing bilateral strategic relations.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted the broad political consensus in Pakistan on maintaining and strengthening relations with China.

Dar made the remarks while co-chairing the Symposium on Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and Seminar on China-Pakistan Governance in Islamabad alongside Haixing.

Addressing the event, Dar emphasised the role of political parties in effective governance, institution-building and national development. Haixing thanked Pakistan’s leadership for supporting political goodwill and closer cooperation between the two countries.

Haixing’s first visit to Pakistan reflects the importance Beijing attaches to strengthening political engagement beyond conventional government-to-government relations. The IDCPC serves as China’s main channel for party-to-party diplomacy and maintains contacts with political parties across different countries.

The visit also comes as Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, established on May 21, 1951. Over the decades, the two countries have expanded cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic and defence sectors.

Their recent engagements have included commitments to strengthen bilateral cooperation under the 2025-2029 action plan. During Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit to China in May, both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in defence and security.

Defence ties have remained an important part of the partnership. During Field Marshal Munir’s visit to Beijing in July 2025, he held meetings with senior Chinese political and military leaders, including Vice President Han Zheng and officials of the People’s Liberation Army.