Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Hangzhou on Saturday, marking the beginning of his four-day official visit to China.
At Xiaoshan International Airport, the premier was welcomed by Zhejiang Deputy Governor Xu Wenguang, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi.
The prime minister is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
It is worth mentioning here that following the visits of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, China is readying itself to welcome yet another top world leader.
The internationally reputable media outlet Al Jazeera also called the PM Shehbaz Sharif a high-profile leader visiting China.
Diplomatic efforts to avoid further escalation of the Iran war are continuing with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif heading to Beijing for talks that are likely to involve promoting Pakistan’s strategic, economic and security cooperation.
Sharif made his last trip to China in September when he joined Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the Chinese military parade.
Long regarded as an “all-weather friendship,” Beijing-Islamabad relations have become even more strategic due to increasing instability in the region.
China is a major importer of oil and gas from the Middle East, including through the Strait of Hormuz.
Read more: Pakistan PM heads to China for key strategic talks
