By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Sunday described their countries’ longstanding alliance as “vital” for peace and stability in a volatile region, as they co-chaired the seventh round of a high-level strategic dialogue aimed at deepening economic and diplomatic cooperation.
The meeting, held in the Chinese capital, came as both nations prepare to mark the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2026, with officials unveiling a commemorative logo and pledging a year of events to celebrate the milestone. Dar, who also serves as Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, arrived in Beijing on Saturday at Wang’s invitation.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X by the Foreign Office, the two leaders “reaffirmed that the Pakistan-China friendship is vital for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and for the two countries.” The dialogue covered a broad range of issues, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — a flagship infrastructure project under China’s Belt and Road Initiative — as well as trade, multilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
The Foreign Office added that the ministers “agreed to enhance coordination at bilateral and multilateral fora.” The talks also addressed “key issues at the regional and global levels,” according to the statement, though specifics were not disclosed. The session represented the latest in a series of regular high-level exchanges between the two allies, whose relationship has been characterised as an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”
Following the dialogue, Dar and Wang jointly unveiled the logo for the 75th anniversary, “marking the start of year-long celebrations to commemorate this historic milestone in a befitting and memorable manner,” the Foreign Office said in a separate post. The previous round of the strategic dialogue took place in August in Islamabad, where Wang met with Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. At that time, China reiterated its commitment to collaborating with Pakistan on promoting regional peace, development and stability.
Earlier on Sunday, Dar held separate meetings with other senior Chinese officials, underscoring the depth of the bilateral engagement. In discussions with Chinese Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, the two sides “reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” the Foreign Office said. Ding “appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support to China on issues of core interest,” the statement added. The leaders highlighted the significance of the upcoming anniversary and “agreed to utilise this milestone to chart a forward-looking vision for enhanced cooperation, including under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.”
Dar also met with Liu Jianchao, the minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China. The foreign minister congratulated Liu on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party. The two expressed “satisfaction with the steady and forward-looking trajectory of bilateral relations while reviewing party-to-party exchanges, regional developments, and progress on various projects under CPEC,” the statement said. They agreed to jointly commemorate the 75th anniversary “in a befitting and meaningful manner.”
Upon his arrival at the airport, Dar was received by China’s special representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong; Pakistan’s ambassador to China; and other officials from the Pakistani Embassy. The strategic dialogue is described by the Foreign Office as the “highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China, providing a structured platform to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.”
During the session, the foreign ministers were expected to announce a series of initiatives and commemorative activities for the anniversary year. The visit reflects the two countries’ determination to broaden their partnership and reaffirm their commitment to regional peace, stability and sustainable development, the Foreign Office said. Pakistan and China established diplomatic ties in 1951, and their relationship has grown increasingly close in recent decades, particularly through economic projects like the corridor, which includes ports, roads and energy infrastructure linking western China to the Arabian Sea. The alliance has taken on added importance amid shifting geopolitics in South Asia, including tensions with India and the aftermath of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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