• Chinese president meets PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir, hails ‘unbreakable’ ties with Islamabad
• Shehbaz says world passing through ‘critical phase’ amid ME unrest, ‘things moving in right direction’ • Chinese premier reiterates Beijing’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation
ISLAMABAD: China’s President Xi Jinping appreciated the “constructive role” played by Pakistan to mediate for peace in the US-Israeli war on Iran.as he met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Monday, and hailed his nation’s “unbreakable” friendship with Islamabad.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, who concluded his visit to Iran on Saturday, was also present on the occasion.
“I know that you have just returned from Iran and made positive efforts to mediate for peace. We appreciate the constructive role of Pakistan,” Mr Xi said, while addressing bilateral talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Following a fragile ceasefire achieved in the US-Israeli war on Iran in April, CDF Munir has been engaged in mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. Weeks into Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts, the US has reported progress in negotiations with Iran.
‘Critical moment’
Earlier in the day, PM Shehbaz met his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People and called for Islamabad and Beijing to “really be together” in ongoing efforts to restore peace in the Middle East amid the war.
The delegation accompanying him, including CDF Munir and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, was also present at the meeting.
Addressing the delegation-level talks with Mr Li, PM Shehbaz mentioned the Middle East conflict, saying that the “world is passing through a very critical moment”.
“I think we have to really be together so that the world at large is at peace and business as usual starts again, because this crisis has hit not only the economy in the region […] but the global community,” he said.
“There is a crisis in the Gulf and Pakistan has played a very sincere role in mediating between the United States and Iran,” PM Shehbaz said, noting that CDF Munir had just returned from Tehran.
“And he [CDF Munir] didn’t want to miss this great visit, and he assured me that he would be joining me at this meeting, and he has been travelling throughout the night,” the premier added.
PM Shehbaz highlighted that the army chief “played a very important role back and forth with the Iranian and the American leaderships”, also mentioning Mr Dar’s communications with his regional counterparts.
“We hope and pray to Allah Almighty that peace will be restored forever, and a lot of ground has already been covered. Things are moving in the right direction,” he said. He thanked President Xi and the Chinese leadership for their “great support to Pakistan to promote peace and achieve a ceasefire”. He added that Islamabad fully endorsed Mr Xi’s four-point peace agenda.
The Chinese premier said Pakistan had maintained close coordination with China and played a positive role in promoting regional peace.
He added that Beijing remained committed to strengthening traditional friendship and expanding bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.
‘Shared future’
During his talks with PM Shehbaz, the Chinese president said he sought to deepen the “all-weather” partnership between the two countries.
“China is ready to work with Pakistan to move faster to build an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, work for more results in our all-weather cooperation, […] contribute to regional peace and stability and set an example for building a community with a shared future among neighbouring countries,” he added.
The Chinese president called PM Shehbaz an “old friend” and said the two countries had “understood, trusted and supported each other” over decades, forging an “unbreakable tradition of friendship”.
“Despite international changes, China has always prioritised Pakistan relations in our neighbourhood diplomacy,” he added.
Speaking with President Xi, PM Shehbaz called China and Pakistan two “iron brother” countries with a relationship that is “next to none”.
PM Shehbaz further praised Mr Xi, saying that “under [his] dynamic leadership, China is not only a world-class economic power [but] also a military power, meant for progress and peace in the world, promoting your own philosophy of multilateralism around the globe”.
Commending Mr Xi’s focus on prosperity through the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said, “This differentiates you as a towering figure around the globe.” He highlighted that a “lot of transformation and structural changes” had been introduced in Pakistan, but there was still a long way to go.
Apart from PM Shehbaz and CDF Munir, DPM Dar and other senior ministers and government officials were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz and Premier Li also witnessed the signing and exchange of multiple memorandums of understanding, protocols and cooperation agreements covering trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, climate change, education, media and people-to-people exchanges.
Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026