China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Islamabad on August 21 for a two-day visit to head the Pakistan-China strategic dialogue and meet Pakistan’s civil and military leadership. His trip follows a stopover in New Delhi, marking the latest in Beijing’s heightened regional engagements.
According to official sources, Wang’s visit will focus on reviewing the state of Pakistan-China relations, with discussions covering key regional and international developments. The agenda for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China, where he is expected to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, will also be finalised.
The backdrop of this visit is significant. Recent months have seen major geopolitical shifts, including the Pakistan-India military conflict in May, the Iran-Israel confrontation in June, and renewed engagement between Islamabad and Washington. China extended strong diplomatic and military support to Pakistan during its standoff with India. While not directly involved, Beijing provided advanced J-10C fighters and PL-15 BVR missiles that helped Pakistan down six Indian jets, including Rafales. Diplomatically, China endorsed Islamabad’s demand for a third-party probe into the Pahalgam attack, which sparked the confrontation.
Both sides are expected to use the dialogue to deepen cooperation in security, trade, and strategic affairs amid evolving global and regional dynamics. Contacts between Beijing and Islamabad have intensified in recent months, underscoring the centrality of the partnership.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s diplomatic calendar remains active. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Dhaka on August 23 for a rescheduled trip aimed at consolidating the improving ties with Bangladesh. Relations between the two countries have warmed since the departure of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year. The interim government in Dhaka, led by Professor Muhammad Younus, has lifted trade restrictions, allowed Pakistani diplomats greater access, and resumed direct sea links.
Dar is set to hold talks with his Bangladeshi counterpart and Chief Advisor Younus, while Commerce Minister Jam Kamal will arrive in Dhaka earlier this week to advance trade discussions. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is also expected to visit Bangladesh in September to attend the first Pakistan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission meeting in two decades.
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