Amid regional instability and ongoing negotiations surrounding the US-Israeli war on Iran, Pakistan and China formalized a series of new economic partnerships on Tuesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended a ceremony in Beijing to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, where Pakistani and Chinese companies signed Memorandums of Understanding worth $7 billion.
The agreements focus on direct business-to-business cooperation across agriculture, technology, and cross-border trade. During his address, the Prime Minister praised China’s rapid economic growth under President Xi Jinping, calling the current state of the alliance the “finest hour” of their friendship, according to his remarks made during the 75th-anniversary ceremony.
Shehbaz characterized the bilateral relationship as “ironclad” and stated it currently has “no befitting parallel.” The diplomatic summit follows Pakistan’s recent efforts to broker peace and ease global energy shipping disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese leadership directly acknowledged these efforts during the state visit. President Xi Jinping referred to Shehbaz as an “old friend” and commended the nation’s constructive mediation role in the Middle East conflict. The newly signed protocols will integrate China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s domestic economic framework.