By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday and conveyed a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting the continued strength of relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, the ambassador handed over a letter from President Xi in response to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s message on the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
The prime minister appreciated the gesture and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to further expanding the all-weather strategic partnership with China. He said the relationship between the two countries had continued to move forward on the basis of mutual trust, shared interests and longstanding cooperation.
The two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral engagement and reviewed areas of cooperation between Pakistan and China. Matters related to regional developments and issues of mutual interest also came under discussion.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts between the two nations. He also highlighted the need for greater exchanges between political parties and parliaments, saying such interactions played an important role in deepening understanding and cooperation.
The meeting reflected the close diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Beijing, which have developed over decades through economic, strategic and development partnerships.
Both countries have repeatedly expressed their resolve to further advance cooperation in areas including trade, infrastructure, investment and regional connectivity, with the China-Pakistan relationship remaining a key pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
