Cooperation papers signed with China as PM opens visit
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HANGZHOU: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif began his four-day visit to China on Saturday with the signing of cooperation documents linking Punjab with Zhejiang province and establishing a joint technology research centre, as Islamabad seeks deeper business, technology and industrial cooperation with Beijing under CPEC 2.0.
The prime minister arrived in Hangzhou, where Zhejiang province’s Vice Governor Xu Wenguang received him at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi were also present.
During a meeting with Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhejiang Provincial Committee Secretary Wang Hao in Hangzhou, the prime minister witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents, including a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a sister-province relationship between Zhejiang and Punjab.
A statement issued by the government of Pakistan on X said the MoU aimed to promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
The prime minister 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,” the statement said.
According to the statement, PM Shehbaz appreciated the remarkable development achievements of Zhejiang province and praised the 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 the prime minister as saying.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistan attached high importance to strengthening cooperation with Zhejiang province, particularly in digital economy, e-commerce, information technology, telecommunications, agriculture, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and skills development.
“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 Pakistan and China, the prime minister said the two countries were entering a new phase of practical, people-centric and development-oriented cooperation.
According to the PMO, PM Shehbaz will attend a business forum in Hangzhou aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistani and Chinese companies under CPEC 2.0.
The prime minister will also engage with chief executive officers of leading Chinese companies and visit the headquarters of Alibaba Group to strengthen economic cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and PM’s Adviser Tariq Fatemi are accompanying the premier.
A day earlier, the Foreign Office had announced that the prime minister 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 is set to 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 Foreign Office said.
In Hangzhou, the premier was scheduled to 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 FO statement said.
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,” Mr Andrabi said, recalling Mr 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.
Published in Dawn, May 24th, 2026
