ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has landed in Shenzhen, China, on five-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Sharif is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Energy Minister Musadik Malik, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. Other officials including foreign secretary, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and senior officials, are also part of the delegation.
Upon landing in Shenzhen, the premier expressed his anticipation for engagements with provincial authorities, the business community, and industry giants via a post on social media. The trip, which spans three segments, will see the Prime Minister visiting Xi’an, Shenzhen, and Beijing.
In Beijing, Shehbaz will meet with President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang. He will also meet Zhao Leji, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and heads of key government departments.
Before his departure, a special meeting was held at Lahore airport, chaired by the PM, to discuss the trip’s agenda and objectives. During this meeting, the PM was thoroughly briefed about the visit.
Pakistani government further highlighted participation of numerous Pakistani and Chinese companies in a business forum scheduled for June 5 in Shenzhen. The forum will see the signing of MoUs and agreements for cooperation and partnership between Pakistani and Chinese companies. Iqbal emphasized that these partnerships, part of the second phase of CPEC, are expected to boost investment and exports in Pakistan.
The visit primarily aims to enhance bilateral economic relations and foster business-to-business collaborations. Notably, a large contingent of investors and industrialists from 79 Pakistani companies has also traveled to China for a business-to-business conference in Shenzhen, where they will engage with their Chinese counterparts to explore mutual growth opportunities.
PM Sharif will participate in the forum and subsequently hold discussions. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the PM’s meetings with the Chinese president and prime minister would cover strategic partnerships, economic projects, and regional cooperation.
Shehbaz’s itinerary in Shenzhen includes visits to several modern IT companies, economic and agricultural zones, highlighting Pakistan’s interest in advancing its technological infrastructure and capabilities. The delegation will visit innovative hubs to draw inspiration and explore collaborative ventures in the technology sector.
The discussions between the two sides will focus on further upgrading the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and enhancing trade and investment. Additionally, talks will cover cooperation in security and defense, energy, space, science and technology, and education sectors.
