Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the recent Pakistan agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would not have been possible without the financial and diplomatic support extended by China.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad for graduates of agriculture selected for training in China, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Beijing as the “most sincere friend” in Pakistan and has credited the country for playing a decisive role in stabilizing the economy in difficulty of Pakistan.
The Prime Minister recognized the continuous economic partnership of China, noting in particular the extension of one year of a loan repayment of $ 2 billion last month, which provided alternatives essential to Pakistan exchange reserves.
Pakistan obtained a rescue of $ 7 billion from the IMF in September 2024 to avoid a balance of payments. An agreement at the staff level was concluded in March 2025 after a successful examination of the first tranche of the program, the support of China considered essential to the completion of the agreement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said China has constantly supported Pakistan’s economy through investments in infrastructure, energy and industrial projects in the Chinese-Pakistani Economic Corridor (CPEC), which he again described as a “rescue buoy” for the country.
The Prime Minister has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to revise the agriculture sector, the essential appellant to ensure national food security, increase the export potential and improve livelihoods in rural areas.
As part of a government initiative to strengthen the sector, 1,000 graduates of Pakistani agriculture will receive training in China in modern agricultural techniques, digital management of cultures and resilient climate practices. The first group of 300 graduates should soon leave for a three -month program, followed by two additional prizes in progressive training in the next year.
During the event, Sharif congratulated outgoing students and expressed his hope that their training would contribute directly to agricultural innovation and productivity once back.
Chinese ambassador Jiang Zaidong, who also attended the ceremony, praised Pakistan’s economic progress over the past year and reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to bilateral cooperation. He said China would continue to work closely with Pakistan, in particular in the modernization of its agricultural sector.
Jiang said Chinese President Xi Jinping attached great importance to the development of Pakistan and the long -standing partnership between the two nations.
