Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday landed in Hangzhou, kicking off his four-day official visit to China.

Zhejiang province’s Vice Governor Xu Wenguang received PM Shehbaz at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport upon his arrival, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Islamabad’s envoy Khalil Hashmi were also present to welcome him.

PM signs MOUs, meets provincial official

Prime Minister Shehbaz signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang and Punjab during a meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee Secretary Wang Hao in Hangzhou.

A statement issued by the government of Pakistan on X said that during the meeting, PM Shehbaz witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents, including the MoU on the establishment of a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang and Punjab.

“The MoU aims to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges,” said the statement.

It added that PM Shehbaz also witnessed the signing of a document of understanding between Hangzhou Normal University and the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing for the establishment of the China-Pakistan Joint Technology Research Centre at the university.

“The centre will promote academic cooperation, applied research, technology exchange and institutional linkages between Pakistan and China,” it stated.

According to the statement, the prime minister appreciated the remarkable development achievements of Zhejiang province and praised the visionary leadership of President Xi Jinping during his tenure as secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, particularly the concept that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

“Zhejiang’s development offered an important example of how ecological conservation, green development and high-quality economic growth could advance in a mutually reinforcing manner,” the statement quoted PM Shehbaz as saying.

Pakistan attached high importance to strengthening cooperation with Zhejiang province, particularly in the fields of digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and skills development, the prime minister added.

“The provincial cooperation constitutes an important pillar of Pakistan-China relations and can play a significant role in advancing Phase II of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through industrial cooperation, agricultural modernisation, technology collaboration and export-oriented development,” he said.

Highlighting the recent commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Beijing, PM Shehbaz said, “The two countries are entering a new phase of practical, people-centric and development-oriented cooperation.”

Detailing his Hangzhou itinerary, the PMO said PM Shehbaz will attend a business forum aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0).

The PMO further said that the premier will engage with the chief executive officers (CEOs) of leading Chinese companies and visit the headquarters of Alibaba Group to strengthen economic cooperation.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima, and PM’s adviser Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the premier on the trip.

A day earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had announced that the premier would undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26.

“The visit assumes special significance as Pakistan and China commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. It will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the abiding strength of the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and advance the shared vision of building an even closer Pakistan-China community with a shared future,” it said.

During the visit, PM Shehbaz will hold meetings with the Chinese leadership, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

“The two sides will review bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and strategic domains, with particular focus on the high-quality development of CPEC, trade, investment, industrial cooperation, agricultural modernisation, information technology, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges,” the FO said.

The premier will begin his visit in Hangzhou, where he will chair the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference. In Beijing, he will attend a reception hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

“The visit is expected to further deepen political trust, strengthen strategic coordination, expand practical cooperation, and consolidate the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China,” the statement concluded.

Separately, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said during his weekly press briefing that the US-Iran war was expected to come up during discussions between PM Shehbaz and the Chinese leadership.

“Pakistan and China have maintained close coordination on the standoff in the Middle East and our peace efforts in this regard,” Andrabi said, recalling DPM Dar’s visit to China last month.

“We agreed on a five-point principle, which was issued as a joint statement. So, yes, this issue will be discussed during the prime minister’s visit,” he added.