ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday held comprehensive bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People, calling for Islamabad and Beijing to “really be together” to restore peace in the Middle East. Addressing delegation-level talks during his four-day official visit, the prime minister emphasized that the global community is passing through a highly critical historical moment. He noted that the ongoing US-Israel war has severely disrupted both regional and global economies, making a joint Pak-China peace push essential for returning the world to normalcy. As part of the visit, the two nations signed 15 landmark cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) spanning trade, counterterrorism, technology, and space exploration.
🔴 BREAKING: China’s President Xi Jinping tells Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that he appreciates Pakistan’s constructive role in mediating peace in the Middle East, Reuters reports citing pool report. pic.twitter.com/EYnc9CJtJV
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) May 25, 2026
Key Highlights
- PM Shehbaz Sharif and Premier Li Qiang held high-level delegation talks in Beijing.
- Pakistan urged close alignment with China to defuse the ongoing Middle East conflict.
- Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir joined the talks directly after his trip to Iran.
- Islamabad explicitly endorsed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s four-point peace agenda.
- Both nations signed 15 fresh bilateral agreements, including pacts on CPEC and technology.
Military Backchannel Progress Shared with Chinese Leadership
A major highlight of the diplomatic huddle was the presence of the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and the Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who traveled through the night directly from Tehran to join the premier in Beijing. Prime Minister Sharif lauded the army chief’s intensive “back and forth” shuttle diplomacy with both the Iranian and American leadership, which has successfully bridged significant ground toward a permanent ceasefire. Sharif also highlighted Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s continuous communications with regional counterparts, affirming that Pakistan’s mediation efforts are moving things in the right direction.
The prime minister extended Pakistan’s full endorsement to President Xi Jinping’s four-point peace agenda, thanking Beijing for its consistent support of global stability. Before commencing formal talks, Premier Sharif offered his deepest condolences to the Chinese leadership over the tragic coal mine gas explosion in Shanxi that claimed at least 82 lives. He marked the visit as a historic milestone, celebrating 75 years of glorious diplomatic ties established by the founding fathers of both nations.
I’d like to thank President Xi Jinping and China’s leadership for their great support to Pakistan to promote peace and achieve ceasefire.
“Pakistan fully endorse President Xi Jinping’s four-point agenda.”
China’s Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced a five-point… pic.twitter.com/5WHN58Rgrd— The Thursday Times (@thursday_times) May 25, 2026
CPEC Progress and 15 Bilateral Agreements Signed
Turning to the bilateral economic agenda, both leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China relations, reaffirming that their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership remains the absolute cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. They agreed that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has played a transformative role in Pakistan’s socio-economic landscape and expressed a shared commitment to accelerating its next phase. Prime Minister Sharif emphasized building direct synergies between China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Pakistan’s national development framework, Uraan Pakistan, focusing heavily on industrialization, digital transformation, agriculture, and clean energy.
| Agreement Category | Specific Pacts & Focus Areas |
| Trade & Agriculture | Protocols on exporting Pakistani dried fruits, nuts, and maize to Chinese markets. |
| Strategic & Security | Letters on counterterrorism equipment cooperation and foolproof security for Chinese nationals. |
| Science & Space | Collaborative space station programs, including the selection of Pakistani astronauts. |
| Development & Climate | Joint MoUs covering economic development and environmental/climate change cooperation. |
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to ensure foolproof security for all Chinese nationals, institutions, and infrastructure projects across the country. He also lauded the upcoming inclusion of Pakistani astronauts in China’s space station program as a testament to their deep strategic trust. Following the delegation-level discussions, the premier witnessed the signing of 15 crucial documents, including protocols for agricultural exports to China, educational exchanges between the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan and China Foreign Affairs University, and a specialized letter on counterterrorism equipment cooperation.
