Pakistan (Commonwealth Union)_ Pakistan and China have reiterated their commitment to strengthening their enduring bilateral ties, and both sides promised to deepen cooperation on economic, political, and regional security fronts. The renewed resolve came during a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin.
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The two presidents addressed a wide range of strategic topics, including the progress of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), regional peace and stability, and cooperation efforts within the SCO framework. The CPEC, which is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, is a $64 billion project that aims to connect China’s Xinjiang province to Pakistan’s Gwadar port by highways, rail lines, and energy pipelines. Both countries see the initiative as important to increasing regional connectivity and driving economic growth. During their meetings, Dar and Wang praised CPEC’s steady progress and reaffirmed their shared commitment to taking the project forward. They also expressed satisfaction with the strength of the broader Pakistan-China strategic relationship, often described by both governments as an “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.”
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Dar’s statements during the SCO summit emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to South Asian peace and stability. He advised against using force and violence as weapons of international diplomacy, claiming that genuine regional stability can only be reached via discussion and respect for sovereignty. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to maintaining the ceasefire and fostering a balanced and secure environment in the region,” Dar said. “But peace cannot be sustained if the use of force becomes the accepted norm.” He further called for all regional disputes to be resolved through structured and sustained dialogue rather than confrontation. “A meaningful dialogue is the only way to address long-standing challenges that have hindered peace in our region,” he added.
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Dar also pointed to recent tensions in South Asia, reiterating that Pakistan has consistently chosen restraint in response to what he described as “provocative rhetoric” and “strategic recklessness” from across the border. Referring to developments since April 22, 2025, he highlighted the urgent necessity to address long-term problems peacefully. “The events of recent months serve as a reminder that unresolved disputes remain the greatest threat to lasting peace in South Asia,” Dar stated. He urged member states of the SCO to support regional peace based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and international law. He also highlighted the need to denounce all types of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism. Dar pushed for a concerted global plan to counter the threat, urging nations to avoid using terrorism as a political weapon and instead address the basic causes of extremism.
Apart from security and diplomacy, Pakistan and China also agreed to strengthen media cooperation in order to combat disinformation and establish a common narrative. This agreement came during a meeting in Beijing between Pakistan’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, and Cao Shumin, a senior official from the Communist Party of China’s Publicity Department. The two sides discussed enhancing collaboration between national broadcasters, China Central Television (CCTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV), to counter fake news and misinformation online. Both countries have recently raised concerns about the spread of false information, with Pakistan’s military and civilian leaders highlighting the dangers of what they have called “digital terrorism.”
According to official statements, the meeting also covered plans for joint training initiatives and institutional cooperation in the media and communication sectors. “This media collaboration reflects not only shared interests but also the trust and long-standing friendship between our two nations,” said a spokesperson. The agreement is part of broader efforts by both countries to strengthen their digital presence and defend against what they see as coordinated disinformation campaigns targeting national institutions and bilateral projects like CPEC.
Wednesday’s meeting in Tianjin marked the third formal engagement between Dar and Wang since the Pakistan-India border tensions that escalated earlier this year. Beijing and Hong Kong hosted their earlier encounters, demonstrating ongoing high-level collaboration on regional issues. Following the discussion, the two nations issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and collaborating to promote peace, prosperity, and stability in South Asia and across the region. Additionally, with rising geopolitical tensions and altering global dynamics, Pakistan and China’s long-standing relationship remains a critical foundation of regional diplomacy, powered by shared interests and mutual respect.
