Chinese Foreign Minister and senior Communist Party leader Wang Yi wrapped up his three-day official visit to Pakistan on Friday, reaffirming that the China-Pakistan relationship remains “ironclad” despite global realignments.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with senior Pakistani and Chinese officials, bid farewell to Wang at Islamabad airport. School children lined the red carpet, waving flags of both nations to mark the symbolic departure.
Strategic Dialogue and CPEC 2.0
During the visit, Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar co-chaired the 6th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Both sides agreed to accelerate the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0), with a focus on industry, agriculture, mining, and regional connectivity. The expansion of CPEC to Afghanistan was also discussed, linking the landlocked country with regional trade routes.
Security and Counterterrorism at the Forefront
Security cooperation remained central throughout the trip. Wang Yi held a crucial meeting with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, where both sides reaffirmed closer counterterrorism coordination. Discussions addressed threats from groups such as the TTP, ISIS-K, and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue in Kabul earlier this week also underscored joint efforts against cross-border terrorism. China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan pledged deeper intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation to eliminate terrorist safe havens.
Meetings with Pakistani Leadership
President Asif Ali Zardari described China as Pakistan’s “iron brother” and the cornerstone of foreign policy, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Beijing’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s sovereignty and economic development.
At all levels, leaders emphasised that shifting global alliances would not alter the strategic depth of the China-Pakistan all-weather partnership.
Symbolic Gestures and Ironclad Friendship
As a symbolic gesture of friendship, Wang Yi presented Ishaq Dar with a framed photo of the solarisation project at Pakistan’s Foreign Office, funded by Beijing. The farewell, attended by children waving flags, highlighted the cultural and people-to-people dimension of the bilateral bond.
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