Pakistan and China on Monday issued a joint statement calling on the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, emphasizing their firm opposition to “double standards” on responding to the threat.
Issued at the conclusion of the 7th Round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, the statement also called for “more visible and verifiable actions” to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations based in Afghanistan, and prevent them from using Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar led Pakistan’s delegation to the dialogue, which took place in Beijing, while Foreign Minister Wang Yi led China’s side.
“The two sides agreed to keep in close communication and coordination on the Afghan issue, work with the international community to encourage the Afghan government to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, pursue good-neighborliness, and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community,” read the statement. It said China had commended the measures taken by Islamabad to combat terrorism and protect the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan.
“China fully recognized the significant contributions and huge sacrifices that Pakistan made in combating terrorism over the years,” it said. “The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with zero tolerance, and agreed to further deepen all-round cooperation on counter-terrorism and security, and make concerted efforts to ensure that the China-Pakistan Belt and Road cooperation advances in a secure and smooth manner,” it said.
Both sides also voiced a readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan trilateral foreign ministers’ dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism to “deliver new outcomes.”
The joint statement said both countries had engaged in a “thorough exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation in wide-ranging areas, including strategic and political cooperation, as well as cooperation on defense and security, economy, trade, investment, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.” As part of this, both sides agreed to “enhance strategic communication, deepen strategic mutual trust, jointly safeguard their common interests, promote the economic and social development of the two countries.” They further sought the safeguarding and advancing of “peace, development and prosperity of the region and beyond.”
The statement noted that Pakistan and China mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2026, adding this would be commemorated with a series of activities aimed at consolidating the China-Pakistan friendship and expanding new areas of cooperation.
Development goals
Pakistan congratulated China on the “successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan” under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping. It also lauded Beijing for its “people-centered development philosophy,” adding Islamabad believed the “Chinese path to modernization provided a new option and practical solution for other developing countries to achieve independent development.”
China, meanwhile, commended the Pakistani leadership on “leading the country to achieve macroeconomic stability and to lay a solid foundation for national economic growth centered on Pakistan’s National Economic Transformation Plan (2024-2029) (URAAN Pakistan) and for its people to share the fruits of development and prosperity.”
Both sides reiterated their “ironclad friendship and strategic mutual trust” and their “unyielding” support for each other’s respective core interests. “Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory,” it said. “Pakistan firmly supports every effort of China to achieve national reunification, and opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence‘ and any attempt to create ’two Chinas’ or ’one China, one Taiwan’,” it added.
“Pakistan firmly supports China on the issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea,” it said. “China reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” it said, adding Beijing had also renewed its commitment to supporting Pakistan in “pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and achieving economic prosperity.”
CPEC 2.0
Both sides agreed to “build an upgraded version 2.0” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), focusing on industry, agriculture and mining, promoting the building and operation of Gwadar Port, ensuring the smooth passage of the Karakorum Highway and enhancing Islamabad’s capacity for sustainable development.
The two countries pledged to “deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.” The statement said it was decided both countries would “take the year-round opening of the Khunjerab Pass as an opportunity to deepen two-way trade and people-to-people exchanges.” They also welcomed “third-party participation” in CPEC cooperation.
Pakistan and China, read the statement, agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including extending mutual support at regional and international multilateral financial forums. “Pakistan appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors,” it said.
Both sides also “expressed satisfaction at their expanding space cooperation” and the anticipated participation of Pakistani astronauts in the China Space Station. “They agreed to explore space in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner for greater economic and social development and prosperity,” it said.
U.N. Charter
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment towards upholding U.N. principles and international law, vowing to “oppose the plotted resurgence of fascism and militarism.” Expressing support for the “postwar international order underpinned by international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and other principles of international law,” they said this was necessary to ensure world peace and security, and protect international justice.
They renewed their “commitment to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, their support for multilateralism and free trade, and their opposition to hegemonism, bullying behaviors violating national sovereignty of other countries, the forming of ‘small circles’ and bloc confrontation.” Beijing, read the statement, commended Islamabad on its “outstanding performance during its U.N. Security Council presidency” and voiced support for Pakistan to work as the rotating president of the SCO from 2026 to 2027.
They also underscored the significance of a South Asian “regional order underpinned by the U.N. Charter, international law, and the basic norms governing international relations.”
Both countries further opposed “any unilateral actions, and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the necessity of resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and consultation.”
During the dialogue, Pakistan informed China of the latest developments in occupied Kashmir. Beijing reiterated its support for the dispute’s resolution in accordance with relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. They also “expressed readiness to conduct trans-boundary water resources cooperation under the principle of equality and mutual benefit.”
Both countries “reaffirmed their readiness to further enhance cooperation under the frameworks of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative.” Pakistan commended China’s efforts to safeguard developing countries’ right to sustainable development, with both countries expressing satisfaction over their cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the U.N. and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Palestine
On the issue of Palestine, Pakistan and China called for an “unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza,” stressing the significance of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. They called for the implementation of the “two-state solution with the establishment of an independent state of Palestine,” and voiced concern over the situation in the occupied West Bank and called for addressing it on an urgent basis.
“The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad next year on mutually convenient dates,” the statement concluded.