Li Keqiang Holds Talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Emphasizing Carrying forward Traditional Friendship and Expanding All-round Cooperation to Promote the Building of a Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future

On the afternoon of November 2, 2022, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan during his official visit to China. 

Premier Li noted that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, close and friendly neighbors, and iron-clad friends. The Chinese side attaches great importance to China-Pakistan relations, and the friendly meeting between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif gives a strong boost to the development of bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Pakistan to carry forward traditional friendship and expand all-round cooperation to promote the building of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, benefit the people of the two countries, and enhance peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Premier Li again expressed his condolences to Pakistan regarding the devastating floods that have hit the country this year. He noted that China is willing to support Pakistan in conducting post-flood reconstruction and strengthening its capacity in emergency management, and makes the best effort possible to provide assistance for Pakistan. Premier Li noted that China is ready to seek greater synergy of development strategies with Pakistan, and deepen practical cooperation in areas including ports, transportation, energy, industry, and social livelihoods. Both sides should steadily advance the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and focus on the sustainability of cooperation projects. The Pakistani side needs to take the negotiation and signing of the Enhanced Version of the Work Plan on Protecting the Safety and Security of All Chinese Personnel, Projects and Institutions in Pakistan as an opportunity, and make every effort to ensure the safety and security of all Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. The Chinese side is ready to ensure the smooth operation of flights between the two countries on the basis of the pandemic response, to ensure sound and orderly exchanges of personnel between the two sides.

Prime Minister Sharif noted that Pakistan and China are close brothers. Consolidating and developing friendly relations with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy. Pakistan always firmly supports China on issues related to China's core interests and major concerns, and truly grateful for China’s precious help for Pakistan in economic development and post-flood reconstruction. Pakistan stands ready to work with China to actively advance the development of CPEC, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure and clean energy, to take Pakistan-China relations to a new level. Prime Minister Sharif stressed that the Pakistani side would not tolerate any move damaging the Pakistan-China friendship, and would make the best effort possible and take all measures to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan.

Both sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.

After the talks, Premier Li and Prime Minister Sharif jointly witnessed the signing of inter-governmental cooperation agreements on economy, trade and investment, e-commerce, digital economy, culture, law enforcement and security, and others.

Prior to the talks, Premier Li held a welcome ceremony for Prime Minister Sharif at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, and He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, were present at the events.