China’s FM arrives in Islamabad to participate in trilateral dialogue

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister (FM) of China Qin Gang has arrived in Islamabad to participate in 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, ARY News reported on Friday.

Upon his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase, the Chinese foreign minister was received by high officials of Pakistan’s Foreign Office.

Qin Gang was paying a two-day visit at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. This is his first official visit to Pakistan since assuming office.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and State Councillor Qin Gang will co-chair the 5th round of the Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue.

The Strategic Dialogue is a structured mechanism that reviews bilateral cooperation in key areas. The two sides will reaffirm the abiding vitality of the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership; develop a roadmap for multidimensional cooperation between Pakistan and China; and discuss the evolving regional and global landscape.

It is pertinent to mention here that Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was also due in Islamabad today to participate in the 5th China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.

The acting Afghan foreign minister will lead a high-level delegation, which includes the Acting Afghan Minister for Commerce and Industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, and senior officials from the Afghan Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Trade.

“The visit of the Acting Afghan Foreign Minister is a continuation of Pakistan’s political engagement process with Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office said. It added that Pakistan was committed to pursue practical engagement with the Afghan government.

During the visit, the two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the political, economic, trade, connectivity, peace and security, and education domains.