Special Correspondent: Pakistan and China reached a “new broad consensus” on further deepening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, with both sides agreeing to “move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a shared future in the new era.”

“The two sides engaged cordially and reached a new broad consensus on further deepening the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and on international and regional issues of mutual interest,” said a joint statement issued as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded his four-day official visit to China on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to the statement shared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM Shehbaz visited China from May 23 to May 26, "at the invitation of Premier of the State Council of the People`s Republic of China Li Qiang." During the visit, President Xi Jinping met with the Prime Minister, while Premier Li Qiang held formal talks with him.

The prime minister also attended the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and "paid a successful visit to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province."

The joint statement described the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan as one "built and nurtured by successive generations of leaderships" and "an important wealth and a strategic asset of the two countries and two peoples."

It noted that throughout 75 years of diplomatic relations, "this friendship has remained rock solid no matter how the international and regional situations evolved, and the two countries have always trusted, respected and supported each other and stood by each other in times of difficulties and challenges."

Both sides said that "in a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership has taken on an even more strategic importance and relevance." Both sides said they would move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan Community with a shared future in the new era, which "will set an example for the endeavour to build a community with a shared future that connects China and its neighbouring countries."

It added that both sides were determined to unswervingly safeguard and develop their bilateral relations, maintain high-level exchanges, and make significant progress under the Action Plan to Foster an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025-2029).