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 for January 4, the Foreign Office said.
The talks will be held with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the first high-level foreign visit to China in 2026.
In a statement posted on X, the Foreign Office said DPM Ishaq Dar was received at the airport by China’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong along with Pakistan’s ambassador to China and officials from the Pakistani Embassy.
The FO earlier noted that Ishaq Dar is the first foreign dignitary to visit China this year, underscoring the importance both sides attach to the bilateral relationship.
The Foreign Office said the dialogue will review the full spectrum of Pakistan-China cooperation, identify new areas of partnership and further advance the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
It described the forum as the highest consultative mechanism between the two countries, providing a structured platform to assess bilateral ties as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.
During the visit, Dar will also attend events marking the start of the 75th year of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
Both sides are expected to announce a series of initiatives and commemorative activities to be held throughout 2026 in connection with the milestone.
According to the Foreign Office, the visit reflects the shared determination of Pakistan and China to broaden and deepen their cooperative partnership, while reaffirming their mutual commitment to regional peace, stability and sustainable development.
Officials said the dialogue will also focus on future-oriented cooperation in political, economic and strategic domains.
The previous round of the Strategic Dialogue was held in Islamabad in August last year, when Wang Yi visited Pakistan and met DPM Ishaq Dar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari.
At that time, China reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Pakistan to promote regional peace, development and stability.
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