Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that Pakistan and China share deep historical and cultural ties, stressing that no one can separate the two nations bound by mutual trust and respect.
Addressing students and faculty at Tianjin University, the prime minister recalled his earlier visit in 2017 and praised the institution for producing world-class scientists, thinkers, and innovators who have contributed greatly to China’s development.
He highlighted that more than 200 Pakistani students are currently enrolled at Tianjin University, adding that they serve as ambassadors of Pakistan and should play a strong role in national progress after graduation.
The prime minister underlined that Pakistan-China relations are as old as the Silk Road, symbolized today by the Karakoram Highway, which stands as a lasting example of their enduring friendship.
Shehbaz also noted that Pakistan was the first Muslim country to recognize China, and even the first international flight to Beijing departed from Karachi six decades ago.
He said that China’s remarkable success in lifting 800 million people out of poverty is a global model, and Pakistan aims to follow this path through education, skills development, and poverty alleviation programmes.