PM Shehbaz Concludes China State Visit; CPEC 2.0 Joint Communiqué Signed on 75th Anniversary

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a four-day state visit to China (May 23–26), meeting President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. A comprehensive joint communiqué committed both sides to accelerating CPEC Phase II, with priority sectors including AI/IT, battery energy storage, clean energy, mining, agriculture, and textiles. For the first time, third-party countries and investors were formally invited into CPEC projects. Development of Gwadar Port as a regional hub and the Karakoram Highway realignment were specifically endorsed. Sharif also sought Chinese backing for Pakistan's US-Iran mediation role, which Beijing expressed support for.