Shehbaz Sharif 'better' for China-Pak ties than Imran Khan: Chinese official media
India Today
Chinese official media on Sunday said that all-weather ties between China and Pakistan “could be better than under Khan” following the increased prospects of Shehbaz Sharif becoming the new PM after the removal of Imran Khan.
Chinese official media on Sunday sounded upbeat about the prospects of Shehbaz Sharif becoming the new prime minister following the ouster of Imran Khan, saying all-weather ties between China and Pakistan "could be better than under Khan".
A new Pakistan government will be formed most likely under Shehbaz, the younger brother of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, after Parliament reconvenes on Monday to vote for a new premier, a write up in the state-run Global Times said.
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"Chinese and Pakistani analysts consider that the solid China-Pakistan relations will not be affected by the internal political change in Pakistan because to safeguard and develop the bilateral ties is the joint consensus of all parties and all groups in Pakistan,” it said.
"The potential successor of Khan is from the Sharif family which has been promoting China-Pakistan ties for a long time, and cooperation between the two countries could be even better than under Khan," it said, adding that close ties between the two countries were better under the traditional political parties.
The USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) progressed better under the previous Nawaz Sharif government.
China had reservations about Khan as he was a critic of the project when he was in the opposition though he later became its big admirer after assuming office in 2018.
