Beijing

Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Munir accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the meeting, which aimed to strengthen the Pakistan–China partnership.

Delayed meeting after SCO summit

During the SCO summit, Xi Jinping met leaders including Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Sharif and Munir were notably absent from his schedule. This led to speculation of a diplomatic snub. The subsequent meeting in Beijing helped reset optics and reaffirm the “all-weather friendship” between Pakistan and China.

First direct engagement with Xi

This was Munir’s first direct interaction with Xi since taking over as Field Marshal. In his earlier trip to China in July, Munir met Vice President Han Zheng but not Xi himself—unlike his predecessor, who had been granted an audience with the Chinese leader. The engagement is therefore being viewed as strategically significant for Pakistan’s military and diplomatic ties.

Talks focused on cooperation and security

The discussions centred on bilateral and regional cooperation. Xi stressed the importance of the China–Pakistan relationship for ensuring peace and stability in the region. He called for accelerated progress on the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and further upgrading of the Free Trade Agreement.

At the same time, Xi expressed concern over the safety of Chinese workers, projects, and institutions in Pakistan. He urged Islamabad to take concrete steps to strengthen protection for Chinese nationals, given past attacks on CPEC-linked projects.

Pakistan’s leadership, including Prime Minister Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, voiced strong support for Xi’s Global Governance Initiative, describing it as crucial for promoting peace, development, and stability.

Military parade and symbolism

Munir and Sharif were also scheduled to attend a major military parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of China’s victory in the People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The event showcased China’s latest weaponry and underscored its expanding military strength. For Pakistan, which sources over 80% of its defence equipment from China, the parade had added significance.