ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will pay a two-day official visit to Pakistan tomorrow (Friday) at the invitation of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said.
In a statement, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that it would be the first official visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to Pakistan since assuming office.
It added that FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Qin Gang would co-chair the 4th round of the ‘Pak-China Strategic Dialogue’ in Islamabad. The strategic dialogue would review bilateral cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad in key areas.
“The two countries will reaffirm the abiding strength of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership; develop a roadmap for multi-dimensional cooperation between the two sides; and discuss the evolving regional and global situation,” it added.
Chinese FM will also meet PM Shehbaz Sharif
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is also scheduled to meet with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and hold three-way talks with the Taliban’s interim foreign minister, Amir Khan Mutaqi.
Mutaqi, who is under a travel ban by the United Nations Security Council sanctions, was given an exemption to travel to Islamabad for the meeting.
Qin’s visit comes after a phone call between Shehbaz Sharif and Premier Li Qiang last week, and the Pakistani leader’s meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing in November, during which they discussed further collaboration on the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and support for efforts to stabilize the Pakistani economy.
The Chinese foreign ministry said that Qin’s visit aims to deepen strategic communication and practical cooperation, promote an ever closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, and contribute positive energy to the region and the world.
It may be recalled that the 3rd round of the Pak-China Strategic Dialogue was held in July 2021 in China.
