BEIJING — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan-China strategic ties during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. The meeting took place as part of a high-level joint session of foreign ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states. Representing Pakistan, Dar conveyed warm greetings from the country’s leadership and emphasized the long-standing “iron-clad” friendship between the two nations.
The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, served as a precursor to the upcoming SCO annual leaders’ summit, which will take place this autumn in Tianjin, China. The SCO is a key Eurasian political and security alliance that includes China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Central Asian nations.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Dar said he was “delighted” to meet President Xi and emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its all-weather friendship with China and promoting shared regional interests through the SCO platform. President Xi, in his welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation under the SCO framework.
After the meeting in Beijing, Dar traveled to Tianjin to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, where he led the Pakistani delegation. Upon arrival in Beijing a day earlier, Dar was welcomed by China’s Ambassador Yu Hong, senior officials from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil ur Rehman Hashmi.
On the sidelines of the SCO gathering, Dar held multiple bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from fellow member states, including Iran, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. These discussions focused on enhancing bilateral ties, increasing regional cooperation, and expanding collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
In his engagements, Dar noted the importance of open dialogue and cooperation, particularly in times of regional and global challenges. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is scheduled to hold further bilateral meetings during his visit, continuing efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s diplomatic footprint within the SCO and the broader Eurasian region.
