Pakistan seeks closer China ties amid Iran war diplomacy

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will begin an official visit to China on May 23 as Islamabad and Beijing move to deepen political and economic cooperation during a period of rising geopolitical tension in the Middle East and Asia. The trip comes while Pakistan continues indirect diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran following the outbreak of the US-Iran war earlier this year.

Regional diplomacy takes center stage

Sharif is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during the four-day visit, with discussions focusing on strategic coordination, regional security and economic partnership. The visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan.

Chinese officials have publicly backed Pakistan’s mediation role regarding the Iran conflict. Beijing said it is willing to cooperate with Islamabad and the broader international community to support peace efforts and restore stability in the Middle East.

The diplomatic activity follows recent visits to China by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting Beijing’s growing role in international negotiations linked to security crises and global power competition.

Economic cooperation and CPEC agenda

Economic issues are expected to dominate much of the agenda. Pakistani and Chinese officials plan to review developments related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship Belt and Road Initiative project connecting China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Gwadar Port through highways, rail systems and energy infrastructure.

The talks are also expected to include trade expansion, industrial cooperation, technology investments, agriculture and telecommunications. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached more than $23 billion in 2024, underlining the importance of the partnership for both economies.

Sharif will begin his trip in Hangzhou, where he is scheduled to attend a Pakistan-China investment conference focused on information technology, energy storage systems and agricultural modernization.

Sharif praises China’s global role

Ahead of the visit, Sharif described China as an indispensable force in the global economy, saying the world “cannot move forward without China.” He also praised Beijing’s rapid industrial and technological growth, calling its development achievements unmatched.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the visit aims to strengthen political trust and expand practical cooperation between the two neighboring countries. Officials also emphasized the importance of long-term strategic coordination at a time of shifting alliances and rising tensions across Asia and the Middle East.