Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from November 1 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced at a press briefing on Wednesday.

This is Shehbaz's first visit to China since he was elected Pakistani prime minister and shows a continuous positive momentum of the close high-level exchanges between the two countries, Wang said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz is one of the first foreign leaders invited after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which embodies the special friendship and strategic mutual trust between China and Pakistan.

"As all-weather strategic cooperative partners and iron-clad friends, China and Pakistan have shared mutual understanding, trust and support since diplomatic ties were established 70 years ago," said Wang.

In the face of the world, time and history change, the two countries still forge ahead side by side and hold hands to meet the challenges of COVID-19 and major natural disasters, he said, adding that through jointly building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China and Pakistan deepen comprehensive exchanges and cooperation and carry out close coordination regarding international and regional affairs.

Using this visit as an opportunity, the spokesperson said China will work with Pakistan to further promote the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and contribute more to safeguarding regional peace and stability and global fairness and justice.

Shehbaz will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Chairman Li Zhanshu during his visit. The two leaders will exchange opinions on bilateral relations and international and regional affairs of mutual concern, aimed at planning and guiding the blueprint for the development between the two countries, Wang said.

(Cover: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif takes part in the 22nd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 16, 2022. /CFP)