ISLAMABAD: As Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday embarked on his China trip for the bilateral strategic dialogue, both China and Pakistan have their eyes set on enhanced coordination for dealing with the evolving regional security environment.

The Foreign Office said the second round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue was being held from August 20-21 in Hainan, China.

According to the Chinese media, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, during a media briefing in Beijing, said China and Pakistan needed to further strengthen communication and cooperation.

Mr Qureshi is accompanied by Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other senior officials on the visit.

The first edition of the dialogue was held in March last year. The dialogue provides a forum for both countries to exchange views on the issues of interest to both of them and explore newer areas for enhancing their bilateral cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues.

‘Strengthening strategic communication and cooperation’ is the buzz word at the talks.

The FO said: “The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues.”

Meanwhile, the Chinese foreign ministry’s spokesman, in his media briefing in Beijing, said: “As the regional and international landscape is going through complex changes, in particular with the profound global impact of Covid-19, China and Pakistan, as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, need to further strengthen communication and cooperation to deal with external challenges, achieve greater development and bring more benefits to the people.”

Mr Lijian hoped that the dialogue would further cement “strategic mutual trust and promote practical cooperation”, besides leading to closer coordination on regional and international affairs.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2020