On Monday, Pakistan and China signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) across various sectors during the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Islamabad. He was warmly received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Noor Khan Airbase with full honors, including a 21-gun salute.
The visit saw the virtual inauguration of the Gwadar International Airport, a critical element of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). “The completion of Gwadar Airport is an important milestone,” Premier Li said during the MoU signing ceremony, underscoring the collaborative efforts of both nations.
At a luncheon held at the Prime Minister’s House, Premier Li and PM Shehbaz Sharif led delegation-level talks focusing on strengthening the Pakistan-China strategic cooperative partnership. The leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral ties, pledging to deepen cooperation under the second phase of CPEC, particularly in areas like industrialization, agriculture, IT, and science and technology. Both leaders emphasized the timely completion of ongoing projects and reiterated their commitment to each other’s core national interests.
Prime Minister Shehbaz assured Premier Li of Pakistan’s unwavering dedication to safeguarding Chinese nationals and projects in the country, particularly in light of recent security concerns, including the attack in Karachi targeting Chinese engineers.
Premier Li, referring to Pakistan as China’s “iron brother,” expressed optimism about the future of bilateral relations and highlighted Pakistan’s critical role in CPEC’s next phase. He also noted that his visit, which coincides with the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, would deepen exchanges between the two countries.
The MoUs signed during the visit cover areas including trade, infrastructure, and development, signaling a new chapter in Pakistan-China relations.
Premier Li’s visit, expected to continue until October 17, includes meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, parliamentary leaders, and military officials, with a focus on further enhancing CPEC projects and security measures for Chinese nationals.
