Pakistan, China reaffirm commitment to deepen all-weather strategic partnership

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with China’s Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing on Sunday, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan–China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO), Dar met with Ding Xuexiang and other Chinese dignitaries in Beijing and the meeting focused on bilateral relations and ways to deepen cooperation between the two countries. Vice Premier Ding appreciated Pakistan’s consistent support for China on issues of core interest.

Both leaders highlighted the significance of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and agreed to use this milestone to develop a forward-looking vision for enhanced cooperation, particularly under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Vice Premier Ding also conveyed New Year greetings to the leadership and people of Pakistan.

A separate statement by the FO said that Dar also met with Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Liu Haixing.

Dar congratulated Minister Liu on the successful convening of the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the statement said.

It added that the two sides “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”.

They also agreed to jointly commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China in a “befitting and meaningful manner.”

Dar, who is visiting Beijing at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yi, was received at the airport by China’s Special Representative on Afghanistan Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Pakistan’s ambassador to China and officials from the Pakistan Embassy.