Key Developments
On 25 May 2026, Xi Jinping met Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC said. The ministry also said talks with Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic produced 20 cooperation documents.
Key Statistics
- 20 cooperation documents signed with Serbia, current
- 75 years of China Pakistan diplomatic relations, historical
- 20 cooperation documents signed with Russia, historical comparative
- $200 billion in China Russia bilateral trade, historical comparative
- 10 cooperation documents signed with Tajikistan, historical comparative
Main Body
On 25 May 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC said President Xi Jinping met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing to reaffirm the long-standing bilateral relationship and discuss cooperation, and also held talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic that concluded with 20 cooperation documents. According to the ministry, both engagements stressed strengthening partnerships and coordination in regional and international affairs.
Operationally, the meeting with Pakistan emphasized collaboration in agriculture and technology, a commitment to regional peace and stability, and maintaining high-level exchanges and strategic communication, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC. The talks with Serbia focused on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership, mutual support in international forums, and expanding work in infrastructure, technology, and cultural exchanges, the ministry said, adding that 20 cooperation documents were signed.
This followed a period of intensified Chinese diplomacy. On 21 May 2026, President Xi and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari exchanged messages marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC noted. Earlier in May, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement and witnessed 20 cooperation documents, while bilateral trade reached 200 billion dollars with 20 percent growth, the ministry said. Xi also concluded a treaty with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon and oversaw 10 cooperation documents, according to the same source.
The parallel outreach to Pakistan and Serbia underscored Beijing’s efforts to consolidate partnerships in South Asia and Europe. The timing came amid AP News reporting that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio visited India for talks on trade and the Quad, indicating active regional diplomatic engagement by major powers. These developments suggested continued competition and coordination across overlapping security and economic agendas.
