Ishaq Dar Visits China for Strategic Foreign Dialogue

ISLAMABAD – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar departed for Beijing on Saturday to co-chair the seventh round of the Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. The dialogue is scheduled for Sunday, January 4, and Dar will jointly lead it with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The Foreign Office confirmed that Dar is visiting at the invitation of Wang Yi. Notably, he will be the first foreign dignitary to visit China in 2026.

The Foreign Office said the talks will review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China. The discussions will also focus on identifying new avenues for collaboration. Both countries aim to strengthen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. The dialogue provides a platform to assess regional and international developments of mutual interest. Officials highlighted the importance of structured high-level consultation between the two nations.

During the dialogue, the two ministers are expected to announce initiatives and commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. These activities will celebrate decades of partnership and shared progress. Pakistan and China have maintained regular high-level exchanges to promote cooperation. The announcement reflects the long-standing commitment to strengthen ties across multiple sectors. Analysts see this as a reaffirmation of strategic and economic collaboration.

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Earlier, the Foreign Office described the strategic dialogue as the highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China. It provides an opportunity to assess bilateral relations thoroughly. The talks also help align policies on regional peace and development. Both countries aim to advance sustainable development in their respective regions. The dialogue underscores the importance of coordination on global and regional issues.

The previous round of the dialogue took place in Islamabad in August. At that time, Wang Yi met with Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari. China reaffirmed its commitment to support regional peace, stability, and development. This upcoming visit highlights continued high-level exchanges and shared priorities between Pakistan and China. Officials view the dialogue as crucial for strengthening diplomatic and strategic ties.