ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday highlighted Pakistan’s growing diplomatic role in easing Middle East tensions amid reported efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran. He made these remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who, along with a delegation, called on him at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office. The development comes days after reports suggested that Pakistan is positioning itself as a key mediator to help broker an end to the US-Israel war against Iran through active back-channel diplomacy.
During the meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Premier Shehbaz congratulated the Chinese leadership on the successful conclusion of the “Two Sessions” and thanked President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi for their warm Pakistan Day greetings.
Appreciating China’s continued economic support, he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0), with a focus on agriculture, industrial cooperation and priority infrastructure projects.
Ambassador Jiang commended Pakistan’s economic resilience and ongoing reform efforts, reiterating Beijing’s continued support, particularly in the areas of trade and investment. Both sides expressed satisfaction over ongoing engagements and looked forward to high-level exchanges to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The prime minister also underscored the importance of close coordination at all levels on issues of mutual interest, reaffirming the enduring Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
