Pakistan, China reaffirm ironclad ties as PM meets NPC Vice Chairman Cai Dafeng

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday received a high-level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng, which is visiting Pakistan to participate in celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The meeting was attended by Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch.
Welcoming the Chinese delegation, the prime minister recalled the historic and time-tested “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Pakistan and China. He said the two countries had developed a unique bond of friendship over the past 75 years, based on mutual trust and strategic cooperation on bilateral and regional issues.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveyed warm greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and the people of China on the occasion of the anniversary. He reiterated Pakistan’s support for China’s core interests and appreciated Beijing’s continued backing of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The prime minister also praised the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a game-changer for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to advancing the next phase of CPEC, particularly in agriculture, information technology, industry and mining sectors. He said he was looking forward to his upcoming official visit to China.
Discussing regional developments, the prime minister appreciated China’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability in South Asia and the Middle East, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional harmony and multilateral cooperation.
Vice Chairman Cai Dafeng thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome and reciprocated greetings on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He said the Chinese leadership remained firmly committed to further strengthening Pakistan-China relations.
He added that China would continue to support Pakistan and deepen cooperation to build a “China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future.”
The visiting dignitary also expressed China’s support for Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and said Beijing would continue contributing towards global peace and stability.
Both sides underscored the significance of the Pakistan-China ironclad brotherhood as an important pillar for peace, development and stability in the region.