ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to China on Tuesday, March 31, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said Monday.
The statement said the upcoming visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional developments, as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.
Despite medical advice to rest following a hairline shoulder fracture, Dar’s decision to travel underscores the priority Pakistan places on its relationship with China, the statement noted.
‘Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks’
The meeting comes days after Dar chaired a quadrilateral meeting alongside foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt to discuss ways to bring an end to the Middle East war.
The conflict, triggered late last month by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions, has escalated tensions across the Gulf and disrupted global energy markets, keeping oil prices and inflation under pressure.
Dar said the foreign ministers "expressed their full support" for potential US-Iran talks in Islamabad and agreed to form a committee of senior officials to coordinate follow-up modalities.
"The foreign ministers advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable pathway to prevent conflict and to promote regional peace and harmony," he told reporters.
In the past days, Dar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have held several calls with Iranian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while actively coordinating with the US administration.
"In this context, Pakistan is very happy that both Iran and the US have expressed their confidence in Pakistan to facilitate the talks," he said, adding that Pakistan would be "honored to host and facilitate meaningful talks between the two sides in the coming days."
