ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday for a high-security visit, where he was welcomed with an honor guard at the Prime Minister’s House and met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit comes ahead of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit set to take place in the Pakistani capital this week.
During the visit, Li and Sharif held delegation-level talks, focusing on economic and trade ties as well as projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment initiative that is part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Sharif’s office said the discussions underscored cooperation on infrastructure and development projects vital to both nations.
In a ceremony broadcast live by state television, Li and Sharif also virtually inaugurated the Gwadar International Airport, a major CPEC-funded project in Balochistan, a region marked by ongoing unrest. The airport, built with Chinese investment, is expected to play a key role in facilitating trade and connectivity under the CPEC framework.
This visit marks the first time in 11 years that a Chinese premier has visited Pakistan, highlighting the ongoing strategic partnership between the two countries.
