China's Xi praises 'unbreakable' ties with Pakistan during Sharif visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the 'unbreakable' traditional friendship between China and Pakistan during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. Xi referred to Sharif as an 'old friend' and stated that the two countries have 'understood, trusted and supported each other' over decades, forging an unbreakable bond. He emphasized that no matter how the international situation changes, China always prioritizes the development of China-Pakistan relations in its neighborhood diplomacy. Xi expressed willingness to work with Islamabad to build a more close-knit China-Pakistan community with a shared future and achieve more in their 'all-weather' cooperation.

In response, Sharif called China and Pakistan two 'iron brother' countries with a relationship that is 'next to none'. The visit comes as Pakistan continues to play a leading role in mediating talks aimed at ending the US-Israeli regime war on Iran. Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, who has been at the center of mediating talks between Washington and Tehran, accompanied Sharif during the visit. Speaking to Chinese leaders in Beijing alongside Munir, Sharif said, 'The world is passing through a critical moment.' He added, 'Things are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank China's support to promote peace.'

According to Chinese state media reports cited by Al Jazeera, Xi appreciated Islamabad's 'constructive role in mediating peace in the Middle East'. For Pakistan, engaging China in its mediation efforts is also important given close Beijing-Tehran ties. The meeting underscores the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to mutual support and cooperation on regional and global issues. According to Al Jazeera, the visit highlights Pakistan's diplomatic efforts and China's backing for peace initiatives in the region.