Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday stressed the need for timely implementation of the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic cooperation with China.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Sun Haiyan, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), who called on him in Islamabad.

The prime minister lauded China’s continued and generous support to Pakistan, particularly under CPEC, and conveyed warm greetings to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s “iron-clad” All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China, calling it unshakeable under all circumstances.

PM Shehbaz also reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the One China policy and renewed his invitation to President Xi Jinping to undertake an official visit to Pakistan later this year, describing 2026 as a milestone year as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.

Welcoming the Chinese vice minister and her delegation, the prime minister noted that the anniversary year had begun with high-level exchanges, including recent visits by Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister to Beijing and the interior minister to Shanghai.

He said the speaker of the National Assembly was also expected to visit China in the coming days.

Sun Haiyan thanked the prime minister for the warm reception and said China was committed to further strengthening its long-standing and time-tested relations with Pakistan across all sectors.

She congratulated him on bringing economic and political stability to the country, adding that the Chinese nation takes pride in Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements.

Briefing the prime minister, the vice minister said the CPC maintained strong ties with a wide range of political parties in Pakistan.

She appreciated PM Shehbaz’s leadership role in fostering political unity for effective governance and underscored the importance of party-to-party relations.

She expressed the CPC’s resolve to deepen collaboration with Pakistani political parties through institutional inter-party mechanisms.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for China Zafaruddin Mahmood, and Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch were also present at the meeting.