https://arab.news/9554r
- Shehbaz Sharif’s office says he will interact with the Chinese information technology minister
- The PM will also chair the second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference during the day
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet China’s Premier Li Qiang and the Minister of Information Technology and Industry Li Licheng today, Thursday, as he continues his six-day visit during which he will hold a string of meetings with Chinese political and business leaders.
Sharif started his visit to China over the weekend, where he attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and held talks with Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping.
He also witnessed a major Victory Day military parade in Tiananmen Square — China’s largest in years — held to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
The display featured cutting-edge systems, including hypersonic missiles, sea drones and laser air defenses. The event was widely viewed as a show of Chinese military might, with a number of world leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, in attendance.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will meet with His Excellency Premier Li Qiang of China today,” his office said in a statement while circulating his agenda for the day. “The Prime Minister will also hold talks with His Excellency Li Lie-cheng, China’s Minister of Information Technology and Industry.”
Pakistan considers China a major investor and regional ally.
Over the years, Beijing has emerged as Islamabad’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $25 billion in recent years, and Chinese companies have already invested heavily in power, transport, infrastructure and telecom projects across the country as part of the multi-billion-dollar China–Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
Sharif will also preside over the second edition of the Pakistan–China Business-to-Business Investment Conference in Beijing during the day. The meeting will review outcomes from the first conference held in Shenzhen in June 2024 and set a future roadmap.
A day earlier, Sharif also invited top Chinese business executives and companies to expand their investments in Pakistan, citing his government’s investor-friendly policies and the country’s push for sustainable economic growth.