HANGZHOU – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Hangzhou marked renewed push in Pakistan–China ties, focusing on practical, people-centered development cooperation.
During talks with Zhejiang Province leadership, both sides stressed expanding collaboration in technology, industry, agriculture, and green growth, drawing inspiration from Zhejiang’s development model. The engagement also underscored stronger provincial ties and new initiatives under CPEC Phase-II, supported by the signing of agreements to deepen cooperation in education, research, trade, and innovation.
Highlighting rapid transformation of Zhejiang Province, the premier praised its remarkable economic and social development achievements and lauded the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping. He particularly referenced the guiding philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” calling it a powerful model that demonstrates how environmental protection and economic growth can move forward together.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی آج ہانگژو میں کمیونسٹ پارٹی آف چائنا (CPC) ژجیانگ صوبائی کمیٹی کے پارٹی سیکریٹری مسٹر وانگ ہاؤ سے ملاقات ہوئی۔ مسٹر وانگ ہاؤ نے وزیراعظم کو ژجیانگ صوبے میں خوش آمدید کہا۔
وزیراعظم نے ژجیانگ صوبے کی شاندار ترقیاتی منصوبوں کو سراہا اور صدر شی جن پنگ کی… pic.twitter.com/q4ZDKpeaSo
— PMLN Punjab (@PMLNPunjabPk) May 23, 2026
Sharif also stressed that Zhejiang stands out as global example of balanced development, where ecological conservation, green development, and high-quality economic expansion reinforce one another rather than compete.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s strategic priorities, the Prime Minister stressed strong interest in deepening cooperation with Zhejiang Province across multiple high-growth sectors, including the digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and skills development.
He further underscored that provincial-level collaboration is becoming a vital pillar of Pakistan-China relations. According to him, such partnerships can significantly accelerate the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC Phase-II), particularly through industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, technology transfer, and export-driven development.
A key highlight of the visit was the signing of two major cooperation agreements witnessed by the Prime Minister. The first establishes a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang Province and Punjab Province, paving the way for expanded collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
The second agreement was signed between Hangzhou Normal University and the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing to establish a China-Pakistan Joint Technology Research Centre at the university. The initiative is designed to boost academic cooperation, applied research, technological exchange, and long-term institutional linkages between the two countries.
