Latest news with #SCOCouncilofForeignMinisters
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan, China agree to deepen ties
Listen to article The foreign ministers of Pakistan and China on Wednesday agreed to further bolster their bilateral cooperation in order to promote regional peace, stability and development. Senator Ishaq Dar and Wang Yi met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Tianjin and reviewed bilateral ties and discussed regional and international development. The meeting took place before Dar wrapped up his three-day trip to China where he went to attend the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. A statement issued by the Foreign Office said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to strengthen their strategic partnership. Dar congratulated Wang Yi on the successful hosting of the SCO foreign ministers' meeting and expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by China during the event. The two leaders held extensive discussions on issues of mutual interest, including progress on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and enhanced multilateral cooperation. Underscoring the significance of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, both sides expressed satisfaction over their ongoing close collaboration across various fields. They also reiterated their resolve to further bolster bilateral ties to promote regional peace, stability, and development. The two ministers also discussed the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took China. The prime minister is set to attend the SCO heads of governments meeting in late August but he will also meet President Xi Jinping. According to officials familiar with the development, the prime minister will be accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The upcoming trip by Pakistan's top civil and military leadership carries added significance in the wake of the four-day military conflict with India during which Pakistan gained the upper hand, with its air force shooting down six Indian fighter jets, including the French-made Rafale. The conflict drew attention to China's military hardware, with several Western capitals closely monitoring the developments in South Asia. Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets and beyond-visual-range PL-15 missiles played a critical role. However, it was Pakistan's indigenous systems integration that made the Chinese hardware even lethal. During a recent visit to Pakistan, the chief of the Chinese Air Force expressed a keen interest in learning from Pakistan's combat experience and multi-domain operations. In a related development, the Indian Deputy Chief of Army Staff recently claimed that India was engaged in a two-front conflict, while pointing out Chinese involvement in Pakistan's military success. Pakistan procures 80 per cent of its military hardware from China. However, the Pakistan army chief at a recent Corps Commanders' meeting clarified that the May conflict was "unmistakably bilateral". Meanwhile, Foreign Minister returned to Islamabad after concluding a successful two-day visit to China for the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, according to his office. In addition to participating in the main SCO CFM proceedings and the joint call on President Xi Jinping, the DPM/FM held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states, it said. China's foreign minister said on Wednesday that China was willing to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in agriculture, industry and mining, as he met with his Pakistani counterpart in Tianjin, according to a Chinese statement. China "supports Pakistan in carrying out its anti-terrorism operations" and believes Pakistan would "do its utmost" to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistan's Ishaq Dar. With additional input from Reuters
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Jaishankar's visit to China reflects a thaw in ties — there will be challenges
Five years after the military standoff between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's meetings with China's President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Liu Jianchao (head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party) signal an intent to repair the relationship with Beijing. Minister Jaishankar's visit to China this week — his first since the 2020 skirmishes — for the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting, taken alongside recent instances of widening engagement, reflects a thaw in bilateral ties. Recall that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit last October, shortly after a new border patrolling arrangement was announced and a few days before the disengagement process officially concluded. Since then, NSA Ajit Doval, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri have all visited China. Other signs that the India-China relationship has been moving in a positive direction include an understanding to expedite the restoration of direct flights and easing of visa restrictions, and resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. While Jaishankar has said that 'a far-seeing lens' should be used for rebuilding ties, some key issues remain unresolved. Post-disengagement, the de-escalation process — the withdrawal of troops from forward positions — hasn't begun at the border. China's restrictive trade practices, such as curbs on critical exports like rare earth magnets and high-tech manufacturing machinery, continue to be a stumbling block. These concerns were conveyed by Jaishankar to Wang, along with a pointed reminder that the SCO was founded to fight 'three evils': Terrorism, separatism, and extremism. At the same time, in an increasingly turbulent world order, and especially with an unpredictable occupant of the White House, re-engagement with China, or what Wang recently described as a 'cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant', is pragmatic policy. For example, the US and NATO threatening to sanction countries doing business with Russia — a move that would hit India and China hardest — underscores the need for a partnership. The fact, however, is that China continues to view its relationship with India primarily through a lens of competition, not cooperation. The most recent example is China's growing military cooperation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. The power gap is also widening. India runs a trade deficit of over $100 billion with China. The latter continues to scale up its defence budget and capabilities. China also leads in critical technologies like AI, quantum computing, and rare earths. And Beijing is steadily strengthening its influence across South Asia, luring countries strategically important to India into its own fold — Bangladesh, most recently. India must, therefore, remain vigilant. Alongside dialogue, to increase its leverage, New Delhi must focus on getting its own house in order: Accelerate economic reform, bolster technological capacity, and foster social and political unity. Some members of the Opposition have criticised Jaishankar's China outreach. His calibrated diplomacy, however, was necessary. The China question demands long-term, strategic clarity at the domestic level as well. And on the foreign policy front, New Delhi must widen its engagement across the neighbourhood and beyond, to prevent Beijing from gaining a decisive upper hand in the region.
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Dar meets Chinese FM Wang Yi on sidelines of SCO summit
Listen to article Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin. Dar congratulated his Chinese counterpart on the successful hosting of the summit and thanked Beijing for the hospitality extended to Pakistan's delegation. Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 met today with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin. DPM/FM congratulated FM Wang Yi on the successful hosting of the SCO CFM… — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 16, 2025 The two leaders held discussions on shared strategic priorities, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and multilateral cooperation within regional and international platforms. Both sides emphasised the strength of the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, expressing satisfaction over their close coordination across political, economic, and security domains. Read: Deputy PM urges coordination for investment gains According to the statement, Dar and Wang reiterated their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation aimed at promoting regional peace, development, and stability. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dar described the visit as successful, thanked the Chinese government for its warm hospitality, and acknowledged the efforts of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Beijing for their role in ensuring smooth diplomatic engagement. As I conclude my 2-day visit to China, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Government of China for their gracious hospitality and impeccable arrangements. It was a pleasure to engage in meaningful discussions with my counterparts on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign… — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 16, 2025 Earlier on Tuesday, Dar addressed the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, where he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to regional stability, multilateral cooperation, and peaceful dispute resolution. Dar described the SCO as a stabilising platform amid deepening global geopolitical uncertainty and praised China's leadership in steering the organisation's agenda forward. He also welcomed Belarus as the newest full member of the regional bloc. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to visit China in August, accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, to further advance bilateral ties and discuss recent regional developments, including the May conflict with India.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Dar terms US, Israeli strikes on Iran unacceptable for SCO states
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seeks a relationship of peace and stability with all its neighbours. Islamabad remains steadfast in its commitment to the ceasefire and the cultivation of a stable regional equilibrium. However, we cannot accept that the arbitrary use of force is normalised. 'We believe that disputes and differences are resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, instead of conflict and coercion. In that backdrop, initiation of a comprehensive and structured dialogue can meaningfully address the full spectrum of issues that have long bedevilled the peace and security in South Asia. Strict adherence to bilateral agreements would be equally important in this regard.' Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated this while addressing the Meeting of SCO Council of Foreign Ministers 15 July 2025–Tianjin, China on Tuesday. Iran has right to defend itself, Dar tells OIC However, he said the last three months witnessed extremely disturbing developments in South Asia. It is most unfortunate that the attribution of the Pahalgam attack to Pakistan – without a credible investigation or verifiable evidence –brought the two nuclear-armed states to the brink of a major conflict. In the wake of mounting tensions, Dar pointed out Pakistan's restrained and responsible approach was met with legal transgressions, rhetorical belligerence, and strategic recklessness. The events unfolding since 22 April 2025 also reaffirm a central truth of South Asian geopolitics: the peaceful settlement of the longstanding unresolved disputes is imperative for an enduring peace in the region, Dar added. Dar said Pakistan appreciates China's deep-rooted commitment to multilateralism and its role in strengthening SCO as the Chair this year. In our pursuit to peace and security, he highlighted we believe in non-aggression, non-interference in internal affairs; non-use of force or threat of its use in international relations, as well as seeking no unilateral military superiority in the region. We emphasize on resolution of longstanding disputes through peaceful means, dialogue, diplomacy and according to the principles of international law, justice and fairness. We are seriously concerned at the trends of using aggression as a tool of policy. We have strongly condemned the unjustified and illegitimate aggression by Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Such illegal actions directed against SCO member states are unacceptable. Israel has shown a reckless disregard for international norms and humanity through its relentless and disproportionate use of force in Gaza resulting in the death of tens of thousands of civilians causing the worst humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We call for immediate halt to Israel's atrocities. The only viable remedy to Palestine dispute is the realization of two-State solution which includes the establishment of Palestine as a viable, secure and contiguous State on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al Quds as its capital. Unilateral and illegal measures to change the status of disputed territories in violation of UN Security Council resolutions must be strongly condemned and opposed by all. Enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan constitute a cornerstone of our shared aspiration. In this context, the revival of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group could serve as a valuable platform for pragmatic and results-oriented cooperation, he asserted. As the permanent chair of the SCO's Special Working Group dedicated to combating poverty, Pakistan is fully committed to providing the necessary momentum to our collaborative endeavours to address poverty. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan, Russia agree to enhance ties in trade, energy, defence sectors
Pakistan and Russia have agreed to further enhance cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture and defence sectors. This understanding came at a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, China. During the meeting, both the dignitaries expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, DPM's Office said. On this occasion, the foreign minister reiterated the invitation for FM Lavrov to visit Pakistan. FM Dar met Chinese President Xi Jinping as well at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and conveyed him the warm greetings of the leadership, government and people of Pakistan. 'As iron-clad brothers and all-weather strategic cooperative partners, we remain committed to deepening Pak-China enduring friendship and advancing shared regional goals,' Dar wrote in a post on X. The meeting between the foreign minister and Chinese president was held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dar also represented Pakistan at the joint call of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States on President Xi. The Chinese president, welcoming the heads of delegations, underlined the salience of regional cooperation under the ambit of SCO, an organisation covering the Eurasian land mass and a large expanse of the world's population, Radio Pakistan reported. Senator Dar arrived in Beijing, China, on Monday to attend a three-day meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers being held in Tianjin, China. He is attending the event at the invitation of Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi.
