Ishaq Dar Arrives in Beijing to Co-Chair 7th Pakistan-China Strategic Dialogue

Web Desk (MNN); Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Beijing on Saturday to co-chair the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 4, according to the Foreign Office.

In an earlier statement, the Foreign Office said Ishaq Dar is the first foreign dignitary to visit China in 2026, on the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who will co-chair the dialogue.

The Foreign Office said in a post on X that Dar was received at the airport by China’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, and senior officials of the Pakistani Embassy.

During the visit, the deputy prime minister will also participate in events marking the start of the 75th year of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. Both countries plan to hold various initiatives and commemorative activities throughout 2026 to celebrate the milestone.

According to the Foreign Office, the strategic dialogue will review the entire scope of bilateral cooperation, explore new avenues of partnership, and further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between Pakistan and China.

The Foreign Office earlier described the dialogue as the highest consultative mechanism between the two countries, providing a structured forum to assess bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.

It said both foreign ministers will announce a series of initiatives and activities to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations, adding that the visit reflects the shared resolve of Islamabad and Beijing to deepen cooperation and reaffirm their commitment to regional peace, stability and sustainable development.

The sixth round of the strategic dialogue was held in Islamabad in August last year, during which Wang Yi met with Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, and reaffirmed China’s support for peace, development and stability in the region.