Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing on Monday to co-chair the 5th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
Upon arrival, Dar was welcomed by Ambassador Wang Fu Kang and Pakistan’s envoy to China, Dr. Khalil Hashmi, as noted in an FO social media post.
During the dialogue, Dar and his counterpart, Wang Yi, will discuss the entirety of Pakistan-China relations. Dar’s agenda includes meetings with Chinese leaders, senior officials, and key business figures.
Earlier, the FO announced that Dar’s visit, which will last from May 13 to May 16, aims to review bilateral relations extensively. The discussions will focus on economic and trade cooperation, high-level exchanges, upgrades to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and new connectivity projects.
The dialogue will also cover the regional geopolitical environment and bilateral interactions at multilateral venues.
This visit continues regular high-level exchanges between the two nations, emphasizing their commitment to deepen the “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.” This commitment includes mutual support on crucial issues, boosting economic ties, especially through CPEC, and promoting regional peace and development.
This trip marks Dar’s first visit to Beijing since the PML-N-led government assumed power after the general elections on February 8.
The visit follows closely after Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s trip to China, where he engaged current investors and financial entities and sought new partnerships for CPEC’s next phase.
Previously, Dar met with Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit in The Gambia. There, both sides reiterated their commitment to enhance cooperation on CPEC projects.
