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PreSIdent XI, PM Shehbaz Pledge new era of ChIna-PakIStan StrategIC PartnerShIP aS tIeS Mark 75 hIStorIC yearS Tuesday, 26 May, 2026 | 9 ZilHaj, 1447
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PAKISTAN REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR ONE-CHINA PRINCIPLE, BEIJING VOWS UNWAVERING BACKING TO ISLAMABAD
PRESIDENT XI CALLS CHINA-PAKISTAN FRIENDSHIP 'UNBREAKABLE' AMID SHIFTING GLOBAL LANDSCAPE
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 61 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
PM SHEHBAZ SEEKS ALIGNMENT OF CPEC 2.0 WITH CHINA'S 15TH FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN
PAKISTAN, CHINA PLEDGE DEEPER COOPERATION IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY, CLEAN ENERGY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
pakistan, China agree to accelerate CpeC 2.0 BEIJING
ASAD NIZAMI
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BEIJING MIAN ABRAR
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday agreed to carry forward the historic legacy of PakistanChina friendship and transform the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations into a new phase of strategic, practical and future-oriented cooperation. The prime minister held a warm and cordial meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing, reaffirming the enduring strength of the Pakistan-China “AllWeather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” according to a statement issued by
the Prime Minister’s Office. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with senior ministers and government officials, were also present during the meeting. Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked President Xi for the warm hospitality and reiterated that relations with China remained the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy. He said the iron-clad friendship between the two countries had acquired even greater strategic significance amid evolving regional and global dynamics. Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for China’s core interests, including the One-China Principle, the prime
Pakistan, China sign 15 accords to deepen multisector cooperation BEIJING
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan and China on Monday signed 15 accords of cooperation in multiple areas, including economy, environment and climate change, agriculture and food security, trade, media, science and technology, counterterrorism, and education, to further strengthen bilateral ties. The accords were signed during the four-day official visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who earlier met with his counterpart Premier Li Qiang, where both leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as the regional situation. Prime Minister Shehbaz and Premier Li witnessed the signing ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People as government functionaries from both sides exchanged the documents. The two sides signed the MoU on economic development cooperation and the MoU on environment and climate change cooperation. They also signed the letter of handover for veterinary vaccines donation, along with the protocols on dried fruits, nuts and maize to be exported to China. Both countries inked the MoUs on conformity assessment cooperation, news cooperation, and for cooperation between the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and Pakistan National School of Public Policy. The ceremony also featured the signing of an MoUs of co-production of documentaries and people-to-people exchanges in science and technology.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday agreed to fast-track the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reaffirming their commitment to taking bilateral relations into a new era of practical, high-quality and results-oriented cooperation. Premier Li Qiang warmly received Prime Minister Shehbaz at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during a high-level meeting held in the backdrop of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral ties and expressed satisfaction over the continued expansion of cooperation in political, economic, strategic, security and people-to-people fields. The two sides acknowledged the transformative role played by CPEC in Pakistan’s socio-economic develop-
minister appreciated Beijing’s consistent support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic stability and national development. Referring to his recent visit to Hangzhou, PM Shehbaz praised President Xi Jinping’s transformative leadership during his tenure in Zhejiang Province and commended his visionary role in turn-
ment and reiterated their resolve to accelerate the implementation of CPEC Phase-II, with a particular focus on industrialisation, regional connectivity, agricultural modernisation, digital transformation, science and technology, clean energy and socio-economic uplift. Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasised that the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations should serve as a milestone for translating the historic friendship between the two nations into practical, people-centric and future-oriented outcomes. He underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and close strategic coordination to further deepen the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Islamabad and Beijing. The prime minister also proposed aligning China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s national development framework, “Uraan Pakistan,” stating that such synchronisation would help accelerate development priorities and expand mutually beneficial cooperation across multiple sectors.
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ing China into a major global power. The prime minister also appreciated China’s support for Pakistan’s efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability, noting that President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal for regional peace had received wide appreciation.
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ishaq dar to head to new York for key un meetings as pakistan backs China's push for stronger multilateralism ISLAMABAD STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will depart from Beijing on Tuesday for New York to participate in a series of important United Nations meetings, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office. During his visit, Dar will take part in the United Nations Security Council’s open debate titled “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UNCentred International System.” The high-level debate will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. In its statement, the Foreign Office said Pakistan welcomed China’s “timely initiative,” describing it as an important effort to reinforce multilateralism and strengthen the central role of the United Nations in addressing increasingly complex global challenges.
On Thursday, Dar will also participate in a meeting of the Group of Friends on Global Governance under the theme: “Reforming and Improving Global Governance, Working Together to Address Global Challenges.” The Group of Friends on Global Governance, established in December last year, comprises 43 countries, including Pakistan, China and Palestine. The platform was created to promote collective efforts aimed at reforming and improving
the global governance system. Besides attending multilateral engagements, Dar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign counterparts and senior UN officials on the sidelines of the meetings. Reaffirming Islamabad’s diplomatic stance, the Foreign Office said Pakistan remained firmly committed to multilateralism and stood ready to contribute constructively towards global peace, security and sustainable development.
PM Shehbaz credits China's peace role as Pakistan pushes US, Iran ceasefire forward BEIJING
STAFF REPORT
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday praised the Chinese leadership for its support in promoting regional peace and facilitating the US-Iran ceasefire, saying significant progress had already been achieved and the situation was moving in the right direction towards lasting stability. “We hope and pray to Allah Almighty that peace will be restored. A lot of ground has already been covered. Things are moving in the right direction,” the prime minister said during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People during his five-day official visit to China. Prime Minister Shehbaz, who was accorded a guard of honour earlier, thanked President Xi Jinping and the Chinese leadership for their “great support” to Pakistan’s efforts aimed at promoting peace and securing a ceasefire in the region. He assured the Chinese leadership of Pakistan’s full endorsement of President Xi Jinping’s four-point peace agenda and also referred to the five-point support programme announced following Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The prime minister said the world was passing through a “very critical moment” amid tensions in the Gulf region and highlighted Pakistan’s active diplomatic role in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran. Referring to the role of Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, who was also present during the meeting, PM Shehbaz said the military chief had played an important diplomatic role through continuous engagement with Iranian and American leaderships. He added that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had also remained in close contact with his counterparts in Iran and Gulf countries as part of Pakistan’s peace efforts. “I think we have to really be together so that the world at large is at peace and business as usual starts again,” the prime minister remarked, warning that the ongoing crisis had adversely impacted not only regional economies but also the wider global economy. He pointed out that Pakistan, being a net importer of oil and petroleum products, had also suffered economic repercussions due to the conflict. Expressing gratitude to Premier Li Qiang for the invitation, PM Shehbaz said it was always a pleasure to visit China, where rapid development and transformation were visible with every visit. The prime minister also expressed deep condolences over the tragic gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s Shanxi province, which caused multiple casualties and injuries, and conveyed solidarity with the affected families. Highlighting the enduring Pakistan-China relationship, PM Shehbaz said both countries were celebrating 75 years of “glorious friendship and diplomatic relations” founded on a strong vision laid down by the founding leadership of the two nations. “We are committed to taking this historic legacy forward and further strengthening our partnership,” he said. In his remarks, Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised Pakistan for maintaining close communication and coordination with China and for contributing positively to regional peace and stability. He said President Xi Jinping would provide strategic guidance during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz later in the day for further deepening bilateral ties.
iran's top envoys discussing potential peace deal with Qatar prime minister, official says DOHA
REUTERS
Iran's top negotiator and its foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar's prime minister on a potential deal with the United States to end the three-month-old war, an official briefed on the visit said on Monday, after Washington and Tehran played down hopes for an imminent breakthrough. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi earlier that the US would give diplomacy every chance to succeed before considering whether to deal with Iran in "another way". There was a "pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the Strait [of Hormuz] open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off", Rubio said. In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, US President Donald Trump said talks with Iran were going "nicely", but
warned of fresh attacks if they failed. It "will only be a great deal for all, or no deal at all", he wrote. In his post, he urged more Arab and Muslim states to sign up to the Abraham Accords, which were brokered during Trump's first term in office and aim to normalise ties between Arab and other Muslim-majority states and Israel. He said Saudi Arabia and Qatar should immediately sign up and everyone else should follow suit, calling his request mandatory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump's post. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a weekly briefing on Monday that a conclusion had been reached on many topics, but that does not mean that "we're close to signing an agreement". The official briefed on the Iranians' Doha visit told Reuters the discussions were focused primarily on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's stockpile of highly enriched ura-
nium, while the country's central bank governor is also part of the delegation to discuss the potential release of frozen Iranian funds as part of a final deal. Baghaei said the potential memorandum of understanding contains 14 points and is focused on ending the war and the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for Iran taking steps to ensure safe transit through the strategic waterway. He said the talks were not yet focusing on nuclear issues, however, which will be negotiated over a 60-day period if the framework accord is agreed. Trump has said his key aim in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied it has any plans to do that. As efforts to reach a deal continued, Iran said it had downed a "hostile" stealth drone using a new air defence system, Iranian news agencies reported, without saying where it had come from.
"This is a sign from us that no more stealth drones can penetrate the skies of the Persian Gulf," Fars quoted unnamed officials as saying.
Baghaei said the potential accord contained no specific details on management of the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas usually flows.