Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leaves for official visit to China

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed for a three-day official visit to China on Monday, a little over a week after Pakistan reached a ceasefire with India.

On the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Ishaq Dar is undertaking this visit to China from May 19 to 21. He is accompanied by Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq.

This marks Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s first visit since recent Pakistan-India stand-off.

During the visit, he will hold in-depth discussions with Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the evolving regional situation in South Asia and its implications for peace and stability, his office said in a statement.

The two sides will also review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-China bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.

The visit forms part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China.

It also underscores the two countries’ shared commitment to further strengthen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

Ishaq Dar will also hold talks with the Chinese Prime Minister, diplomatic sources said. Afghanistan’s interim Foreign Minister Ameer Khan Muttaqi will also reach China on May 20.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Xi and Pakistan and Afghanistan’s foreign ministers will hold a trilateral meeting in Beijing, sources said.

The ministers will consult over the current regional situation in the wake of the Pakistan-India tensions, according to sources.

Trilateral meeting will also discuss promotion of mutual trade and security
cooperation, sources added.