At noon on October 14, 2024 local time, at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council arrived at PAF Base Nur Khan Airport in Islamabad by chartered plane to start his official visit to Pakistan and attend the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and other officials greeted him at the airport.

Li Qiang said that Pakistan is China's all-weather strategic cooperative partner. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 73 years ago, both sides have always enjoyed a high degree of mutual trust and firmly supported each other, and China-Pakistan relations have become a good example of friendly cooperation and mutual benefit between countries. President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to China in June this year, during which the two leaders made further plans to accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, providing important strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation. China is ready to continue carrying forward the traditional friendship with Pakistan, constantly deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, better share development opportunities, and jointly create a bright future of common prosperity and progress of the two countries.

Li Qiang pointed out that China looks forward to working with all parties of the SCO to implement the outcomes of the Astana Summit, further carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, deepen cooperation in various fields, and promote the cohesion of the SCO, so as to make greater contributions to advancing regional peace, stability and development.

Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad after wrapping up his official visit to Viet Nam. Upon leaving Hanoi, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam He Wei and other officials saw him off at the airport.