Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Islamabad this week to co-chair the Sixth Round of Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on August 21, the Foreign Office confirmed Tuesday.
Strengthening the “All-Weather” Partnership
The visit is part of regular high-level engagements aimed at further deepening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Talks will focus on reaffirming support for each other’s core interests, boosting economic and trade cooperation, and reinforcing their shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and development.
Broader Diplomatic Engagements
During his stay, Wang Yi will also hold meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Key discussions are expected on CPEC progress, defence ties, regional security, and economic collaboration.
This marks Wang Yi’s first visit to Pakistan since last year’s escalation along the Pakistan-India border. The trip follows his recent meeting with Field Marshal Munir in Beijing and his stop in New Delhi, where he stressed that China and India should treat each other as “partners and opportunities rather than adversaries.”
Trilateral Talks Expected
Diplomatic sources indicate that immediately after his Pakistan visit, Wang Yi is expected to participate in a trilateral foreign ministers’ meeting with Afghanistan in Kabul. Deputy PM Dar is likely to join discussions with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on regional stability and Pakistan’s security concerns, though an alternative venue in Islamabad has not been ruled out.
The trilateral dialogue had faced delays due to external opposition but is now seen as a significant step in advancing China-Pakistan-Afghanistan cooperation.
Looking Ahead
The sixth dialogue comes after the fifth round held in Beijing in May 2024, where Dar and Wang reaffirmed mutual support in agriculture, industry, mining, and security. It also precedes Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s planned visit to China later this month for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, underlining the momentum of bilateral ties.
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