Pakistan, China discuss regional and global developments in high-level meetings

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Pakistan and China on Monday discussed regional and global developments as a visiting official of Beijing’s ruling party met with the country’s top leadership.</p> <p>Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee (IDCPC), <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2116948156198076485">arrived</a> in Islamabad on a three-day visit last night. The <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.idcpc.org.cn/english2023/zlbjj/jgsz/">department</a> is in charge of the CPC’s external relations.</p> <p>During his meeting with Haixing and his delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan and China enjoyed an “ironclad, time-tested and all-weather strategic cooperative partnership”, the premier’s office (PMO) said.</p> <p>“Both sides exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination and cooperation at bilateral and multilateral forums,” the PMO statement read.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/PakPMO/status/2117287478566813833'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/2117287478566813833"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>The prime minister underscored that Pakistan-China friendship was anchored in mutual trust, mutual respect and deep-rooted bonds between the people of both countries.</p> <p>Reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to working closely with China, PM Shehbaz commended the “shared focus on advancing cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, infrastructure development, IT and agriculture modernisation”.</p> <p>He stressed the importance of sustained political engagement and party-to-party exchanges in further strengthening the bilateral relations.</p> <p>He also appreciated the important role played by the IDCPC in fostering institutional linkages and promoting cooperation between the political leadership of the two countries.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2002685'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2002685" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>On his part, Haixing “appreciated the ongoing momentum in high-level and party-to-party exchanges, aimed at further bolstering the iron-clad friendship between the two countries”, PMO said.</p> <p>He conveyed the greetings of the Chinese leadership and reaffirmed China’s commitment to further deepening its longstanding friendship with Pakistan, the statement added.</p> <p>PM Shehbaz also hosted a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary and the accompanying Chinese delegation.</p> <h2><a id="meeting-with-cdf-munir" href="#meeting-with-cdf-munir" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>Meeting with CDF Munir</h2> <p>In a separate meeting, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir discussed “evolving regional and international security dynamics and bilateral relations” with Haixing, the military’s media wing <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=7833">said</a>.</p> <p>The visiting CPC official called on CDF Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, according to a <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release-detail.php?id=7833">statement</a> by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).</p> <p>Besides discussing matters of mutual interest, both sides “expressed their shared resolve to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China”, ISPR said.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed ' data-original-src='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK4J4xfTalQ'> <div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nK4J4xfTalQ?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' loading='lazy' allow='accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div> </figure> <p>CDF Munir highlighted the “historic and time-tested bond between the two countries and emphasised the importance of sustained high-level engagement, stronger institutional linkages and expanded cooperation across areas of mutual interest”.</p> <p>China’s Haixing appreciated Pakistan’s contributions to regional peace and stability and expressed confidence in further advancing the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries, according to the statement.</p> <h2><a id="islamabad-beijing-agree-to-maintain-close-coordination" href="#islamabad-beijing-agree-to-maintain-close-coordination" class="heading-permalink" aria-hidden="true" tabindex="-1" title="Permalink"></a>Islamabad, Beijing agree to maintain close coordination</h2> <p>Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also held a bilateral meeting with the IDCPC minister in Islamabad.</p> <p>The Chinese dignitary conveyed greetings from FM Wang Yi, which DPM Dar “warmly reciprocated”, according to the Foreign Office (FO).</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2117226247113855177'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2117226247113855177"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>On his part, Dar also conveyed “warm greetings” to President Xi Jinping on behalf of Pakistan’s leadership.</p> <p>He also reaffirmed Islamabad’s “continued commitment to further strengthening the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” with Beijing.</p> <p>“The two sides discussed ways to enhance cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges,” FO added.</p> <p>Both leaders, according to FO, expressed their resolve to maintain close coordination and carry forward the “positive momentum” in bilateral relations.</p> <figure class='media w-full sm:w-1/2 media--right media--embed media--uneven' data-original-src='https://www.dawn.com/news/2041194'> <div class='media__item media__item--newskitlink '> <iframe class="nk-iframe" width="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="height:250px;position:relative" src="https://www.dawn.com/news/card/2041194" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms"></iframe></div> </figure> <p>Haixing’s visit is “part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China, reflecting the longstanding friendship and all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries”, FO had <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2116948156198076485">said</a> earlier.</p> <p>Recently, Pakistan and China <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040705/pakistan-china-sign-agreement-to-operationalise-green-channel-at-sost-khunjerab-border">signed an agreement</a> to operationalise a green channel at the Sost-Khunjerab border for agricultural and allied products to facilitate bilateral trade. Khunjerab Pass connects Gilgit-Baltistan with China’s Xinjiang region and is the highest paved international border at 15,500 feet above sea level.</p> <p>Also last week, the two countries <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2040200">launched</a> the China-Pakistan Information Corridor (CPIC), which will be based on four pillars — media, business and enterprises, think tanks, and culture/tourism.</p> <p>Pakistan and China <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1912152/china-says-it-backs-pakistan-in-defending-sovereignty"><u>share</u></a> a longstanding strategic partnership rooted in mutual trust, economic cooperation and regional connectivity.</p> <p>Over the decades, ties have expanded across various sectors — including trade, energy, defence, infrastructure and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2033244/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit">space</a> — with the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1884628"><u>China-Pakistan Economic Corridor</u></a> (CPEC) symbolising a shared vision for development.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.