Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday said Beijing is taking its relationship with Islamabad to new heights as he commenced a three-day official visit to Pakistan aimed at all dimensions of their bilateral ties.
Wang arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday, with the Foreign Office saying he would participate in high-level diplomatic engagements during his visit. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and top diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, received him.
Addressing a joint press conference on Thursday, Dar said the two sides had held a productive discussion covering all dimensions of bilateral ties, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said Pakistan was determined to advance CPEC’s second phase, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and deepen cooperation, adding the two countries enjoyed consensus on all major matters.
The foreign minister, who holds the additional designation of deputy prime minister, also said Islamabad valued China’s role in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty. He stressed that both nations were committed to working together for regional peace, stability and prosperity. He said the two sides had also discussed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Beijing.
During the press talk, Wang said the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China was gaining strength. He echoed Dar in saying the two sides had held detailed discussions on the second phase of CPEC, asserting that China saw Pakistan as a trusted ally. He said regional peace and stability were shared objectives of both countries.
The ongoing visit aims to review bilateral cooperation, regional developments, and global issues of mutual interest. Both Wang and Dar would co-chair the strategic dialogue.
During his visit, Wang is also expected to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.