On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif arrived in Beijing for an official eight-day visit, making history as the first female chief minister of Pakistan to visit China. Upon her arrival at Beijing Airport, she was warmly received by representatives of the Chinese Communist Party, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmir, and other senior officials.
Maryam was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key provincial ministers such as Pervaiz Rasheed, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Azma Bokhari, Bilal Akbar, and Ashiq Kermani.
Following her arrival, the Punjab CM met with a senior delegation from the Communist Party of China. During the meeting, Maryam emphasized her vision to elevate Punjab’s economy and financial sectors with China’s cooperation. “Pak-China bilateral relations are progressing to unprecedented levels,” she remarked.
Throughout her visit, Maryam will tour several major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. She is set to meet with Chinese ministers, high-ranking officials, and experts, while also participating in numerous meetings, events, and conferences.
In a post shared on X before her departure, the Punjab CM highlighted the objectives of her visit, which include strengthening modern infrastructure, enhancing healthcare systems, advancing education, fostering clean energy initiatives, boosting IT investments, and tackling environmental issues like smog.
This visit follows the recent trip by Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang to Pakistan in November 2024, during which he attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Islamabad and held talks with top Pakistani officials.
