Dar Announces May State Visit as Pakistan-China Ties Mark 75 Years

Context Pakistan and China celebrated three quarters of diplomatic relations with a high‑level Chinese delegation led by Cai Dafeng visiting the Senate. The two nations have long coordinated at the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to advance developing‑country interests.

Key Facts - Dar described the bilateral partnership as “multidimensional, based on mutual trust, respect and mutual benefit.” - Before the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) began, cities faced up to 18 hours of daily load‑shedding and villages up to 20 hours. - Dar linked those shortages to the genesis of CPEC, noting that Chinese support turned discussions on energy relief into a broader infrastructure program. - The second phase of CPEC is already underway, adding new energy projects and expanding development beyond the Karakoram Highway and Gwadar Port. - Dar announced a May 23‑26 state visit, during which he will travel with Prime Minister Shehbaz to meet Premier Li Qiang and other Chinese leaders. A large, multi‑party parliamentary delegation will attend, establishing a Pakistan‑China Political Parties Forum and activating the CPEC joint consultative mechanism.

What It Means The upcoming visit signals a deepening of strategic and economic ties at a milestone anniversary. By highlighting CPEC’s success in eliminating prolonged power cuts, Pakistan positions the corridor as a template for future cooperation, potentially paving the way for “CPEC 2.0” projects that could further integrate energy, transport and trade networks. Watch for agreements on additional energy capacity and the formal launch of the parliamentary forum, which could shape policy coordination in the coming year.