In a joint statement, Pakistan and China announced efforts to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen strategic coordination by promoting the "high-quality development" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0, Reuters reported on May 26. Both sides agreed to move forward with CPEC by upgrading the 808 mile (1,300 kilometer) Karakoram Highway and expanding Gwadar port, and Pakistan also pledged targeted measures to strengthen security and coordination to protect Chinese workers and investments, following repeated attacks on Chinese nationals and projects that have raised concerns in Beijing.

The joint statement followed Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's four-day visit to China on May 23-26.