Pakistan, China reaffirmed strategic partnership at SCO summit in Tianjin: FO

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan has reiterated its commitment to deepening regional connectivity and multilateral cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighting the centrality of Pakistan-China ties during his recent visit to Tianjin.

Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, in his weekly news briefing, said the Prime Minister’s participation in the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) and CHS Plus meetings, held from August 31 to September 1, was undertaken at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The summit provided an opportunity to engage with regional leaders and reaffirm Pakistan’s perspectives on pressing challenges, including terrorism, unresolved disputes, and instability in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister condemned state-sponsored terrorism and referred to evidence of foreign involvement in incidents such as the Jaffar Express hostage crisis and attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed the importance of structured dialogue to address disputes in South Asia, while also voicing strong condemnation of Israel’s “inhuman” military offensive in Gaza and recent attacks targeting Iran, a fellow SCO member state.

On Pakistan-China cooperation, Shafqat Ali Khan said the Prime Minister underscored the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the flagship of regional integration under President Xi’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He said Pakistan’s strategic location can serve as a vital trade and transit hub for the SCO region.

The Prime Minister’s meetings with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang focused on reinforcing political trust, supporting China’s Global Development, Security, and Civilization Initiatives, and expanding cooperation in agriculture, mining, IT, and industrial sectors.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the Pakistan-China Business-to-Business Investment Conference, attended by over 800 companies, identifying new avenues of collaboration. He later joined global leaders at China’s 80th Victory Day Anniversary Parade, marking World War II commemorations.

The FO spokesperson said Pakistan’s voice at the summit “was heard clearly and firmly,” adding that its stance for peace, justice, and shared prosperity reflects a continued alignment with China’s vision for regional stability and connectivity.