BEIJING: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Moha­mmad Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing on Monday on a three-day official visit.

He was received at the airport by senior Chinese officials and Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Khalil Hashmi, said a news release issued by the DPM Office.

In Beijing, Mr Dar will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other senior leaders, including key members of Chinese Communist Party, according to a Foreign Office press release.

The meetings will focus on current regional developments and multiple dimensions of Pakistan-China relations.

Prior to his departure, DPM Dar told the media that China was a major trading partner of Pakistan and that both countries enjoyed an iron-clad close relationship.

He said that during the last three weeks, he had two telephonic interactions with FM Wang, who had invited him to visit China.

Mr Dar said his meetings with the Chinese leadership would cover political, local, regional and global issues, besides recent tensions between Pakistan and India.

In reply to a question, the FM referred to his telephonic interactions with many counterparts worldwide, saying Islamabad had already exposed the Indian blame-game against Pakistan.

Mr Dar’s visit reflects the importance that Islamabad attaches to developing China-Pakistan relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said here on Monday.

“China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. The two countries maintain close, high-level exchange and cooperation,” she said during her regular briefing while commenting on Mr Dar’s May 19-21 official visit to China.

On the India-Pakistan situation, she said, “We will continue to maintain communication with both sides and play a constructive role for comprehensive, lasting ceasefire between the two countries, and maintaining regional peace and stability.”

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2025