Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has embarked on a six-day visit to China, where he will attend the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit being held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 2.
According to the Foreign Office, the premier is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss various dimensions of bilateral cooperation, including trade, investment, and strategic partnership. The discussions will also cover the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and key regional and global issues.
During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif will attend a military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the World’s Anti-Fascist War, alongside President Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
The prime minister will also engage with top Chinese businessmen and corporate executives to enhance economic and investment ties while addressing the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing.
This year’s SCO summit, themed “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move,” is set to be the largest in the bloc’s history, bringing together 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer states. Originally founded in 2001 as a security-focused platform, the SCO has since expanded into areas of economic cooperation, counter-terrorism, and long-term strategic planning.
Related stories:
