Pakistan, China reinforce ‘Ironclad’ ties with high-level talks

August 20, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan and China deepened their strategic engagement this week as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Islamabad for a three-day visit, emphasising what Beijing described as “ironclad” ties between the two nations.

Wang co-chaired the sixth round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. His visit, from Aug. 20 to 22, followed a series of high-level meetings between leaders of the two countries over the past year.

“Solid strategic mutual trust and frequent high-level exchanges were distinctive features of China-Pakistan relations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. She added that the two sides held “in-depth communication” on bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of shared concern.

The trip marked Wang’s second visit to Pakistan in three years, reinforcing momentum in diplomatic engagement after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China in June 2023 and President Asif Ali Zardari’s state visit in February 2025, when he attended the Ninth Asian Winter Games in Harbin.

Beijing said the latest round of talks aimed to deliver on the “important common understandings” between the countries’ leaders, expand practical cooperation across multiple sectors, and strengthen coordination on international affairs. Mao emphasized that the bilateral relationship “was not affected by any third party and did not target any third party.”

Answering a question on China’s position regarding Pakistan and India, Mao described both as “important neighbors” and stressed Beijing’s readiness to play a constructive role in easing tensions. “We hoped they would find proper solutions to their issues,” she said.

The dialogue took place as China sought to accelerate work on its flagship Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), while Islamabad looked to bolster economic support and security assurances from its top strategic partner.

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