Pakistan and China reaffirmed their longstanding strategic partnership on Thursday as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held “fruitful and substantive” discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the 6th round of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad.
Review of Bilateral Ties
Dar said both sides took stock of progress since the last dialogue held in Beijing in May 2024. The talks covered the full spectrum of relations, including CPEC-II, trade, investment, defence, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
The ministers also discussed regional and global developments, with Dar highlighting that both sides enjoyed “complete unanimity and consensus on all important matters.”
Regional Cooperation and Afghanistan
Dar noted that Pakistan and China have worked together to form trilateral partnerships with other regional countries. Referring to the recent Kabul dialogue with Afghan FM Amir Khan Muttaqi, he said the three nations are committed to enhancing counter-terrorism cooperation, regional trade, cultural exchanges, and extending CPEC into Afghanistan.
Preparing for PM Shehbaz’s China Visit
Looking ahead, Dar confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Beijing at the end of August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He announced that a Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference will also be organised during the visit, which is expected to formally launch CPEC Phase-II after years of delay. This phase will focus on industrial cooperation, joint training in AI, construction engineering, agriculture, and hospitality management.
Wang Yi’s Visit
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in Islamabad last night, was received by Dar and also called on President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both sides underlined that the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership is indispensable for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
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