PM Shehbaz appreciates China's role in US-Iran ceasefire, notes progress on regional peace

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, appreciating the support of Chinese leadership in promoting peace and achieving the US-Iran ceasefire, informed his counterpart Li Qiang that a lot of ground had already been covered and the situation was moving in the right direction for the restoration of peace in the region.

“We hope and pray to Allah Almighty that peace will be restored. A lot of ground has already been covered. Things are moving in the right direction,” the prime minister said in his opening remarks during the meeting with Premier Li at the Great Hall of the People, during his five-day official visit to China.

The prime minister, who was earlier accorded a guard of honour, thanked President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership for their great support to Pakistan in promoting peace and achieving a ceasefire, assuring President Xi’s four-point agenda would be fully endorsed. He also mentioned the five-point support programme for the ceasefire, announced after Deputy Premier Ishaq Dar’s meeting with his counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

He said that the world was passing through a very critical moment amid a crisis in the Gulf, and Pakistan had played a very sincere role to mediate between the United States and Iran.

Referring to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s visit to Iran, who was also present in the meeting, he said that he had played a very important role, going back and forth with the Iranian leadership and American leadership, along with DPM Dar and his counterparts, not only in Iran but also in the Gulf countries.

“I think we have to really be together so that the world at large is at peace and business as usual starts again, because this crisis has hit not only the economies in the region — including Pakistan, which is a net importer of oil and oil products — but the global community,” PM Shehbaz said.

Expressing his gratitude to Premier Li for the invitation, he said it was always a great pleasure to visit China, as each time new changes and major developments were witnessed.

He also expressed deepest condolences on the tragic gas explosion at the coal mine in Shanxi, causing deaths and injuries, conveying full solidarity to the victims and their families.

The prime minister said that both countries were celebrating 75 years of “glorious” friendship and diplomatic relations established by their founding fathers, who laid a strong foundation and an edifice between the two countries. Both countries were trying to take that legacy forward on this great journey towards promoting our relations.

In his remarks, Premier Li said that Pakistan had maintained close communication and coordination, safeguarded common interests, and injected positive energy into regional peace.

He said during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz later in the day, President Xi would provide strategic guidance for further deepening bilateral relations.

“China is ready to work with Pakistan to pursue greater solidarity, carry forward traditional friendship, firmly support each other, and keep expanding practical cooperation to deliver more results in building a community with a shared future for the two countries,” he added.

Pakistan, China sign 15 accords

Later, PM Shehbaz and his Chinese counterpart Li witnessed signing and exchange of several agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), protocols, and cooperation documents between the two countries.

These agreements/MoUs/protocols are aimed at further deepening cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, climate change, education, media, and people-to-people exchanges, the PM Office stated.

The documents signed and exchanged included: The Executive Program on Educational Cooperation and Exchanges; Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Sanitary Requirements for Dried Fruits and Nuts; Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for Maize; MoU on Strengthening Development Cooperation in the Agriculture Sector; Letter of Exchange (LoE) on Animal Vaccines; MoU on Deepening Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Economic Development; MoU on Cooperation in the Fields of Environment and Climate Change; MoU on Cooperation between the Foreign Service Academy (FSA) and China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU); MoU between the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (China National Academy of Governance) and Pakistan National School of Public Policy (NSPP); MoU on the Joint Implementation of the Human Resource Development Cooperation Programme for the Year 2026; MoU on Conformity Assessment; MoU between Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and China Association of Science and Technology (CAST); MoU between Xinhua News Agency and Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC); MoU on Cooperation in Joint Shooting Documentary between China Media Group (CMG) and Pakistan Television (PTV); MoU on Supporting Free Trade and Multilateralism; Establishment of Sister-Province Relationship between Zhejiang Province and Punjab Province.

PM Shehbaz noted that the signing of these agreements reflects the growing depth and diversity of Pakistan-China cooperation and opens new avenues for collaboration in key sectors that directly contribute to the welfare and prosperity of the peoples of both countries.