On May 25, a meeting took place in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the two sides discussed deepening their strategic partnership and addressing regional crises, including efforts toward de-escalation of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Xi Jinping referred to Pakistan as a “old friend” of China during the meeting, emphasizing the “unbreakable friendship” between the two countries. He stated that Beijing and Islamabad have maintained decades-long relations based on mutual support and are ready to further strengthen their strategic partnership.
The meeting was held at the Great Hall of the People in China and followed Sharif’s talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. It was also attended by Pakistan’s military leadership, including the Chief of Army Staff, highlighting the importance of security issues on the agenda.
According to international media assessments, one of the key topics of the meeting was the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and diplomatic efforts to bring it to an end. Pakistan has recently been seeking to enhance its role as a mediator between the United States and Iran, while China has called for restoring stability in the region.
At the same time, Pakistan-China economic cooperation remains central to the agenda. In recent business forums, agreements worth more than $1.2 billion were signed between the two countries, covering sectors such as energy and infrastructure.
The meeting underscores China’s efforts to maintain its influence in South Asia amid growing engagement from the United States and other powers in the region. For Pakistan, Beijing continues to be one of its key economic and security partners, particularly in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment.
