President Xi praises Pakistan’s role in Middle East peace efforts
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday praised Pakistan’s constructive contribution to ongoing efforts aimed at promoting peace in the Middle East during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently on a four-day official visit to China. During the talks, President Xi described the relationship between China and Pakistan as a longstanding and “unbreakable” friendship, reaffirming that Beijing places great importance on its partnership with Islamabad within its regional diplomacy framework. He also referred to Prime Minister Shehbaz as an “old friend,” reflecting the close ties shared by the two countries. The meeting took place shortly after Prime Minister Shehbaz met Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Earlier, upon his arrival at the venue, PM Shehbaz received a warm welcome from Premier Li before both sides participated in delegation-level discussions covering bilateral cooperation and regional matters. During the official reception ceremony, the national anthems of Pakistan and China were played while the two leaders introduced members of their respective delegations. Prime Minister Shehbaz was also presented with a guard of honour. PM Shehbaz introduced Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and other senior officials from Pakistan’s delegation, while Premier Li presented members of the Chinese cabinet. In his remarks, Shehbaz highlighted the importance of joint Pakistan-China efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East. He thanked President Xi and the Chinese leadership for supporting Pakistan’s ceasefire initiatives. The PM reiterated Pakistan’s support for President Xi’s four-point proposal intended to advance regional peace and stability. He said the ongoing tensions in the Middle East were affecting economies worldwide, including Pakistan’s. Premier Li, in his comments, said Pakistan had maintained close coordination with China and played a positive role in encoura