Pakistan and China Strengthen Ties at SCO Summit 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tianjin, China, on Saturday to participate in the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit and related high-level events, including commemorations of the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance.
At Tianjin Airport, the premier was received with a warm welcome by senior Chinese officials, including Sun Meijun, Yu Yunlin, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and senior government representatives.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit takes place at the invitation of President Xi Jinping from 30 August to 4 September 2025. Prime Minister Shehbaz will hold meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss key aspects of Pakistan-China relations, focusing on bilateral cooperation, trade, and regional stability.
He will also attend a military parade in Beijing alongside world leaders to mark the 80th anniversary of the World’s Anti-Fascist War. During his stay, the Prime Minister will engage with prominent Chinese business leaders and address the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference, strengthening trade and investment links between the two nations.
The visit underscores the enduring “All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Pakistan and China. It aims to accelerate Phase-II of CPEC, enhance communication on global challenges, and reaffirm mutual support on core issues. This trip marks Shehbaz Sharif’s first visit to China since the Pakistan-India conflict earlier this year, where Pakistan claimed significant military success with Chinese defense technology tested in real battle scenarios.