Beijing
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday for the first time since taking over as the country’s top military officer. The meeting took place in Beijing alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and focused on bilateral and regional cooperation.
Munir, part of Sharif’s delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, will also attend a grand parade on Wednesday commemorating the 80th anniversary of China’s People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The parade is expected to showcase China’s most advanced weapons, including aerial, ground, electronic, and missile systems—an area of keen interest for Pakistan, as over 80 percent of its military equipment comes from China.
During his first visit to China in July, Munir had met Vice President Han Zheng but not President Xi, unlike his predecessor, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. His current visit follows a recent meeting with US President Donald Trump, a gesture that reportedly caught China’s attention.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the talks covered wide-ranging issues on regional stability, defence, and economic cooperation. Xi emphasized the importance of a strong China-Pakistan relationship in safeguarding peace and development amid global changes. He highlighted plans to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, while urging Pakistan to protect Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions.
Sharif praised Xi’s Global Governance Initiative at the SCO summit, pledging Pakistan’s support and commitment. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s adherence to the one-China principle and promised to strengthen friendship, enhance cooperation, and ensure the safety of Chinese interests in Pakistan.
The meeting marks a key milestone in reinforcing China-Pakistan ties and signals ongoing collaboration in defence, trade, and regional stability.
