BEIJING: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday described Pakistan-China relations as “two souls and one heart,” reaffirming the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries during celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic ties.
Speaking at a ceremony in Beijing, the prime minister said the relationship between Islamabad and Beijing was built on decades of trust, consistency and political commitment, and now stood at a level “without parallel in international relations.”
He said the friendship had endured every test over time and continued to grow stronger with each generation.
Shehbaz Sharif praised China’s rise as a global economic and military power, saying its development journey offered key lessons for countries facing poverty and economic challenges.
He credited Chinese President Xi Jinping with lifting more than 800 million people out of poverty, calling China’s progress a result of “visionary leadership and sustained reforms.”
Read More: Shehbaz backs Xi’s peace plan, calls for regional stability
The prime minister also said President Xi’s emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy had strengthened his global standing as a respected leader.
Recalling past milestones in bilateral ties, Shehbaz Sharif referred to historic visits and China’s assistance during Pakistan’s 2010 floods, saying such moments reflected the depth of the relationship.
He said Pakistan and China must further strengthen cooperation for future generations and expressed confidence that Pakistan could develop a “Chinese-style economic model” through reforms and discipline.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, also speaking at the event, congratulated both countries and reaffirmed Beijing’s support for Pakistan, describing the relationship as one based on a “shared future.”
He highlighted cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, including its second phase, saying it had delivered tangible benefits and China was ready to deepen alignment with Pakistan’s development plans.
Separately, the prime minister held meetings with Chinese business delegations focused on expanding investment in Pakistan.
He met representatives of FAMSUN, Shandong Xinxu Group, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), and invited them to expand operations in agriculture, industry, mining, logistics and infrastructure.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to fast-tracking key CPEC projects, including ML-1 and the Karakoram Highway realignment, while assuring full government support for ongoing investments.
Chinese companies expressed strong interest in expanding their footprint in Pakistan, citing confidence in the country’s economic potential.
