PM Shehbaz hails ‘finest hour’ of Pak-China friendship during Beijing ceremony

BEIJING — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday celebrated the “finest hour” of diplomatic and strategic relations between Pakistan and China during a high-profile anniversary event in the Chinese capital. Addressing a ceremony marking 75 years of formal bilateral ties, the prime minister emphasized that the multi-generational alliance was forged with immense devotion by the founding leadership of both countries and has since matured into an unparalleled global partnership. Sharif is currently undertaking a four-day official visit to China to finalize deep economic, agricultural, and infrastructure initiatives under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Key Highlights

• Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed a high-level ceremony in Beijing to celebrate 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations.
• The prime minister urged Pakistan to adopt aspects of the Chinese economic model to effectively combat poverty and unemployment.
• High-level corporate meetings were held to accelerate strategic CPEC Phase II infrastructure and transit projects.
• Leading Chinese industrial groups committed to expanding localized investments in green agriculture and manufacturing.
• Senior state ministers received instructions to ensure rapid, rigorous follow-up on all signed commercial agreements.

Prime Minister Urges Adoption of Chinese Economic Model to Spark Growth

Reflecting on China’s historic developmental journey, Prime Minister Sharif lauded the country’s rise to global economic and military prominence through steadfastness and untiring hard work. He noted that under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, China has successfully lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, offering a blueprint for other developing nations. The prime minister described the current state of bilateral ties by stating that the two nations operate as “two souls and one heart”. He formally resolved that Pakistan must take the critical steps necessary to implement a localized version of the Chinese economic model to systematically eliminate poverty and joblessness at home.

Beijing: 26 May 2026.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets Chinese business delegations.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a series of high-level meetings with leading Chinese enterprises, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic, industrial,… pic.twitter.com/bBA4GxLNkI

— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) May 26, 2026

Corporate Summits Fast-Track CPEC Phase II Infrastructure and Logistics

Separately, the prime minister utilized his Beijing itinerary to lead a series of critical corporate consultations aimed at boosting industrial cooperation under CPEC Phase II. Meeting with a senior delegation from FAMSUN, the premier invited the enterprise to establish automated manufacturing facilities in Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones to reduce post-harvest agricultural losses. He also met with the leadership of the Shandong Xinxu Group Corporation, praising their ongoing investments in the Port Qasim sea-to-steel project, battery manufacturing, and mineral processing ventures in Gwadar and northern Pakistan.

In a separate technical session, Prime Minister Sharif met with the heads of China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). He lauded their six-decade history of infrastructure delivery in Pakistan, including the Karakoram Highway and the Rashakai Special Economic Zone. The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s absolute commitment to fast-tracking priority transit initiatives, including the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade. The Chinese corporate leadership reaffirmed its long-term confidence in Pakistan’s economic potential, prompting the prime minister to instruct his cabinet ministers to maintain rigorous timelines for project execution.