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ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that Pakistan was &ldquo;open for business&rdquo; and pursuing economic revival and industrial expansion as Pakistan and China reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral investment cooperation during a business conference in the Chinese city of Hangzhou.&nbsp;Addressing the Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference on IT and Telecom, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Agriculture on Saturday, Dar said the sectors selected for the conference were central to Pakistan&rsquo;s economic transformation and industrial modernization, according to a Foreign Office statement issued on Sunday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2058413523051712949&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a68cc03651fd282476f4be353d0cc978abde75be&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The conference was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, senior Chinese officials, ministers, diplomats and business leaders from both countries.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan is open for business. Pakistan is reforming. Pakistan is rising,&rdquo; Dar told participants.&nbsp;He said more than 500 Pakistani and Chinese companies participated in the event, reflecting strong business interest in expanding economic ties between the two countries.&nbsp;Dar said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was pursuing an ambitious agenda of economic revival, industrial expansion and sustainable growth.&nbsp;The deputy prime minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office had placed economic diplomacy at the center of its foreign policy, adding that expanding business-to-business engagement with China was a key example of this approach.&nbsp;Highlighting the growing momentum in bilateral investment cooperation, Dar said Pakistan and China had already organized four sector-focused B2B conferences before the latest edition in Hangzhou.&nbsp;He said more than 300 memorandums of understanding and nearly three dozen joint ventures had been signed under these initiatives, with a combined value exceeding $13 billion.&nbsp;According to Dar, nearly 30% of the memorandums had already been converted into agreements and contracts.&nbsp;He also referred to recent progress made by Chinese company IBI Guolian Gufen, saying the firm established its Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad within months of meetings held in Beijing.&nbsp;Dar said the company&rsquo;s recent visit to Pakistan resulted in MoUs worth more than one billion dollars.&nbsp;The deputy prime minister thanked Chinese authorities, including Zhejiang provincial officials and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, for supporting the conference and promoting bilateral economic cooperation.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with the Pakistani delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, meets Wang Hao, Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province, and his delegation, in Hangzhou on Saturday, 2026. (Photo: X/@MIshaqDar50)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan ‘open for business’, says FM Dar at investment conference in China

ISLAMABAD: Chinese industrial e-commerce giant IBI Beijing United Technology&#39;s President&nbsp;Qian Xiaojun&nbsp;said that establishing Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. In a meeting with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, Xiaojun said that the Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would help connect&nbsp;the small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan with the Chinese market.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2055176373405450512&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2f7d50b64432d66d7196b2a1892872b2a552a726&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 721px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2055176373405450512"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan launched the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad on May 14. This is an integrated platform under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) focused on trade facilitation, supply chain digitization, and SME empowerment. A statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office said that an 11-member delegation, led by Xiaojun called on the prime minister at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s House in Islamabad. PM Sharif welcomed the high-level Chinese business delegation and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening economic and digital cooperation with China. The PM said Pakistan and China enjoy historic ties and remain all-weather strategic cooperative partners. He praised the remarkable development achieved by China under the leadership of Xi Jinping and said he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to China later this month. Prime Minister Sharif appreciated IBI Group&rsquo;s decision to establish its Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in the country and expressed satisfaction over growing business-to-business cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said it was encouraging that the company intends to promote cooperation in the digital economy, investment facilitation, and industrial collaboration. Expressing confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s economy, Xiaojun said IBI aims to help build the digital backbone for Pakistan&rsquo;s economic transformation. He said the establishment of the Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises by connecting them with the Chinese market. The delegation&rsquo;s visit follows the Pakistan-China business-to-business investment conference held in Beijing in September 2025 during Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s visit to China. Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials also attended the meeting.

Economy

IBI Beijing United Technology's President Qian Xiaojun tells Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that Digital Economy Headquarters Pakistan will serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Chinese e-commerce giant says IBI Pakistan to provide opportunities to SMEs

During President Zardari’s five-day visit to China, Pakistan Navy commissioned its first Hangor-class submarine, marking a major milestone in maritime modernization and strengthening Pakistan’s regional deterrence and sea security capabilities.

Pakistan president wraps China visit, advances CPEC, defense cooperation ties

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will undertake an official visit to China from April 25 to May 1 at the invitation of the Chinese government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. According to an official statement, the president will travel to Changsha from April 25 to 27 and Sanya from April 28 to May 1.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2047908376403972270&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2b8ab7e76e03a9c332be4c14d8bdac318af126f0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 850px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> During the visit, he is expected to hold meetings with provincial leaders to discuss bilateral relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation and the China&ndash;Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Foreign Office said.&nbsp; Officials said the trip forms part of longstanding high-level exchanges between the two countries and carries added significance as Pakistan and China mark&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-pakistan-mark-75-years-as-cpec-investment-nears-26-billion" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">75 years</a>&nbsp;of diplomatic relations this year. The visit is expected to reaffirm both sides&rsquo; commitment to deepening their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

President Asif Ali Zardari met Li Shulei, Member of the Political Bureau & Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, in Chengdu on Sep 13, 2025. (Photo: X/@PresOfPakistan)

He is expected to hold meetings with provincial leaders to discuss bilateral relations, with a particular focus on economic and trade cooperation and the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Foreign Office said

Pakistan president to visit China for talks on trade, CPEC 

Pakistan TV

Islamabad: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi has said Islamabad and Beijing have jointly called on the Afghan authorities not to allow its soil to be used against any third country and verifiably act against terrorist organisations present on their soil.&nbsp;Speaking in Pakistan TV&rsquo;s show &lsquo;Beyond Borders&rsquo;, Ambassador Hashmi said the situation was serious due to Afghan authorities&rsquo; inability or unwillingness to act against the TTP and other terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan.&nbsp;Both Pakistan and China want the authorities in Afghanistan to act decisively against them [terror groups] and prevent them from undertaking terrorist activities in any country, he added.&nbsp;The ambassador said Pakistan-China collaboration in the security realm was very robust and &ldquo;we have several mechanisms to promote it and further enhance it&rdquo;.&nbsp;He said on counterterrorism, Pakistan and China had dialogue mechanisms, signed MOUs and agreements to deepen cooperation, conduct joint exercises, exchange views, and also collaborate and cooperate on multilateral platforms.&nbsp;On bilateral relations, Ambassador Hashmi said the joint communique issued after the recent meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks about the enduring nature of the relationship between the two countries, which is based on mutual strategic trust, respect and support.&nbsp;&ldquo;This meeting was very significant in the sense that it came after less than five months of the previous round of strategic dialogue,&rdquo; he said, adding that it was also the first meeting between the Chinese foreign minister and Pakistani deputy prime minister within the first week of the new year.&nbsp;The ambassador further said the meeting was also significant as Pakistan and China were going to celebrate 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, and in this context, both sides had started joint celebratory activities, such as inauguration of a logo and holding of a joint exhibition of historic photographs.&nbsp;&ldquo;But more specifically, I think both sides have agreed to inject fresh momentum into trade, economic and other practical cooperation, including the Karakoram Highway realignment project and many others,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Ambassador Hashmi said both countries had also agreed to work on the implementation of the action plan that was signed last year during the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China.&nbsp;&ldquo;So all in all, we are committed to taking our relationship and our friendship forward and take it to new heights in the New Year,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Ambassador Hashmi said Pakistan and China attached great importance to respect for international law, the UN Charter and opposition to unilateral actions, adding that these principles applied equally to Pakistan&rsquo;s core issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;He also criticised India&rsquo;s unilateral move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, calling it illegal and contrary to international law.&nbsp;The envoy went on to say that Pakistan had consistently expressed firm support for China&rsquo;s core interests, including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea, saying this mutual backing reflected a high degree of strategic trust and support between the two countries.&nbsp;&ldquo;And that kind of mutual trust, mutual support will continue for all times to come,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Ambassador Hashmi said Pakistan and China were committed to building the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with high priority areas being mining, agriculture, industry, ICT and human resource development.&nbsp;He said both sides had decided to align phase two of CPEC with Pakistan&#39;s Uraan programme.

Beyond Borders

Pakistan and China jointly press Afghanistan to act against terror groups as Ambassador Khalil Hashmi highlights robust security cooperation, strategic trust, expanding trade ties and renewed momentum for CPEC phase two.

Pakistan, China jointly call on Afghan authorities to act against terrorist organisations: Pak envoy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday co-chaired the 7th round of the Pakistan&ndash;China Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, reaffirming the two countries&rsquo; commitment to their longstanding strategic partnership, Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office said.&nbsp;According to the statement, the two sides reviewed &ldquo;the entire spectrum of Pakistan&ndash;China relations, including CPEC, trade, multilateral cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges,&rdquo; and also exchanged views on key regional and global developments.&nbsp;Both foreign ministers underscored the centrality of the &ldquo;All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership&rdquo; and reaffirmed that the Pakistan&ndash;China friendship remains vital for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond, the statement said.&nbsp;&ldquo;They agreed to further enhance coordination at bilateral and multilateral fora,&rdquo; it added.&nbsp;The dialogue also marked a significant diplomatic milestone, with both sides &ldquo;befittingly celebrat[ing] the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan&ndash;China diplomatic relations,&rdquo; according to the statement.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Dar held talks with China&rsquo;s Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing. &ldquo;The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening the Pakistan&ndash;China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that &ldquo;Vice Premier Ding appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent support to China on issues of core interest.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dar is visiting Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.&nbsp;He was received on arrival by China&rsquo;s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China, and officials of the Pakistani Embassy.&nbsp;Pakistan and China maintain close strategic, political, economic, defense and cultural ties, with both countries coordinating closely on regional and international issues and supporting each other&rsquo;s core interests at multilateral forums.

Islamabad says Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi discuss regional and global issues while reaffirming the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

In Beijing, Dar holds talks to deepen Pakistan-China cooperation

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan assumed chairmanship of&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Shanghai Cooperation Organization&rsquo;s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO-RATS) for 2025&ndash;26, pledging enhanced regional cooperation against terrorism,&nbsp;<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The decision was made at the 44th meeting of the council in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, where member states agreed to hand over the leadership to Pakistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;This is a reflection of the confidence of SCO member states in Pakistan&rsquo;s dedicated efforts and contributions towards regional peace and security, particularly in combating terrorism,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1965752242977603714&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2F&sessionId=e9ef7ac3249b124ed6420d600ca9d2d288eeddef&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 875px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div><span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FO added that Pakistan, in its new role, would &ldquo;work towards fostering regional cooperation against terrorism, in line with shared priorities, guided by the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, equality, and shared responsibility.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As chair, Pakistan said it will host events on &ldquo;cyber counter-terrorism, information operations, border security, countering terrorist financing, and capacity-building to deepen collaboration.&rdquo;Pakistan has made &#39;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">unparalleled sacrifices&#39;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FO also stressed Pakistan&rsquo;s frontline role in the fight against terrorism, noting the country has &ldquo;made unparalleled sacrifices to ensure safety and security not only of its own people but the region and beyond.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The statement further underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2025-26, saying the country has been &ldquo;entrusted with key responsibilities in the counterterrorism domain.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;Pakistan will continue to work with international and regional partners to advance collective efforts against terrorism, in line with the principles of the SCO, international law and the United Nations Charter,&rdquo; the statement said.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite frequent political frictions, particularly between Pakistan and India, that have limited SCO-RATS progress in past years, Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The RATS Council also endorsed plans for new expert groups and joint information campaigns against international terrorist organizations next year.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It condemned recent attacks in member states and voiced concern over strikes on civilian facilities and Iran&rsquo;s nuclear energy infrastructure, echoing language in the Tianjin Declaration adopted at the 2025 SCO summit.SCO succcessor to Shanghai Five<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance founded in 2001, evolving from the &ldquo;Shanghai Five&rdquo; grouping of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pakistan became a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June 2017, after serving as an observer since 2005. Its participation underscores Islamabad&rsquo;s strategic interest in regional peace, security, and economic integration.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most recent summit was held in Tianjin, China, in September 2025, marking the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State. Key outcomes included Belarus&rsquo; admission as a full member, adoption of a 10-year development strategy, and the announcement of four security centers and an SCO development bank. Chinese President Xi Jinping also pledged billions in aid and training opportunities.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), based in Tashkent, was established to coordinate efforts against terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Its activities include intelligence sharing, building databases of banned groups, conducting joint drills, and facilitating extradition agreements.

Pakistan assumes chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s anti-terror body, pledging stronger regional cooperation on counterterrorism for 2025–26.

Pakistan assumes chair of SCO anti-terror body

BEIJING: Pakistan and China signed bilateral agreements worth $8.5 billion on Thursday across various sectors, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif describing it as a &ldquo;long march of economic growth.&rdquo; Chinese and Pakistani companies signed $7 billion in memoranda of understanding (MoU) and $1.54 billion in joint ventures at the Second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing. Sectors covered include agriculture, electric vehicles (EVs), solar energy, health, chemicals, petrochemicals, iron, and steel. In his address, the Pakistani PM announced the launch of CPEC 2.0, aimed at attracting investment into diverse sectors and creating job opportunities. He assured Chinese investors that bureaucratic delays would be eliminated. Describing the forum as a reflection of the &ldquo;iron-clad brotherhood&rdquo; between Pakistan and China, Mr. Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was committed to investor facilitation and security for Chinese nationals. &ldquo;The safety of Chinese citizens is paramount,&rdquo; he said. The Pakistani PM praised China&rsquo;s transformative influence on Pakistan&rsquo;s energy and infrastructure. He noted that Pakistan overcame severe power outages thanks to China&rsquo;s support.He also pledged to focus CPEC 2.0 on business-to-business investments in agriculture, IT, artificial intelligence, minerals, and industrial relocation. Highlighting the importance of special economic zones for attracting investment, Sharif called for Chinese partnerships to modernize Pakistan&rsquo;s agriculture. Over 60% of the country&rsquo;s population is employed in the agriculture sector. The Pakistani PM recalled his first visit to China in 1982. He lauded China&rsquo;s economic rise and leadership under President Xi Jinping, stating he was committed to replicating China&rsquo;s development model to transform Pakistan&rsquo;s economy. The conference was attended by senior Chinese and Pakistani officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, and Chinese trade representatives.

The deals aim to boost investment, job creation, and economic growth 

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