China-Pakistan Dialogue: Foreign ministers review defence, trade, investment ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the seventh round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, conducting a comprehensive review of bilateral relations.

According to a Joint Press Communiqué issued by the Foreign Office (FO) on Monday, both leaders engaged in an in-depth exchange on wide-ranging cooperation, spanning strategic and political ties, defence, security, trade, investment, and cultural exchanges.

During the dialogue, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing strategic communication and deepening mutual trust. They agreed to jointly safeguard common interests and promote socio-economic development within their respective countries. Furthermore, the two nations pledged to continue working together to advance peace, stability, and regional prosperity.

The two sides announced the launch of commemorative activities in 2026 celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, which will serve as an opportunity to consolidate China-Pakistan friendship and expand new areas of cooperation so that China-Pakistan friendship could grow from strength to strength and pass from generation to generation.

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They reiterated that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners enjoying ironclad friendship and strategic mutual trust. The sound and robust growth of China-Pakistan relations is of great strategic significance for regional peace, stability and development. Both sides reaffirmed that high-level exchanges between the two countries are a hallmark of bilateral ties.

They said they will act on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, implement the action plan to foster an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era (2025-2029) signed by the two governments, and keep the building of the China-Pakistan community with a shared future at the forefront of the building of a community with a shared future with neighbouring countries.

Pakistan spoke highly of China’s development achievements in the new era under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and congratulated China on the successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. Pakistan commended China’s people-centered development philosophy, and believed that the Chinese path to modernisation provided a new option and practical solution for other developing countries to achieve independent development.

China congratulated Pakistani leaders on leading the country to achieve macroeconomic stability and to lay a solid foundation for national economic growth centered on Pakistan’s National Economic Transformation Plan (2024-2029) (Uraan Pakistan) and for its people to share the fruits of development and prosperity.

The two nations reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Pakistan firmly supports every effort of China to achieve national reunification, and opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” and any attempt to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

Pakistan said it firmly supports China on issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. China reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. China supports Pakistan in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and achieving economic prosperity, and supports Pakistan in firmly combating terrorism and playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs.

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China commended the comprehensive measures taken by Pakistan to combat terrorism and protect the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. China fully recognised the significant contributions and huge sacrifices that Pakistan made in combating terrorism over the years.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with zero tolerance, and agreed to further deepen all-round cooperation on counter-terrorism and security, and make concerted efforts to ensure that the China-Pakistan Belt and Road cooperation advance in a secure and smooth manner.

Calling on the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, the two sides expressed their firm opposition to double standards on counter-terrorism.

The two sides agreed to further align their development plans and priorities, and build an upgraded version 2.0 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a pioneering project of Belt and Road Initiative. The two sides agreed to focus on the three key sectors of industry, agriculture and mining, promote the building and operation of the Gwadar Port, ensure the smooth passage of the Karakoram Highway, and enhance Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development.

They will deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational training and education, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The two sides will take the year-round opening of the Khunjerab Pass as an opportunity to deepen two-way trade and people-to-people exchanges. The two sides welcomed third-party participation in CPEC cooperation that conforms with the modalities set by China and Pakistan.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including extending mutual support at regional and international multilateral financial forums. Pakistan appreciated China for providing support for its fiscal and financial sectors.

The two nations expressed satisfaction at their expanding space cooperation and for the expected early entrance of Pakistani astronauts into the China Space Station. They agreed to explore space in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner for greater economic and social development and prosperity.

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The two sides agreed that it is essential to firmly uphold the outcomes of the victory of World War II, adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, reject attempts to distort historical facts, and oppose the plotted resurgence of fascism and militarism. The two sides expressed support for the postwar international order underpinned by international legal documents such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation and other principles of international law for the maintenance of world peace and security, and protect historical truth and international justice.

They emphasised the importance of a South Asian regional order underpinned by the UN Charter, international law, and the basic norms governing international relations, reiterated opposition to any unilateral actions, and reaffirmed the significance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia and the necessity of resolving all outstanding disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on its position on and latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. China reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

The two sides expressed readiness to conduct trans-boundary water resources cooperation under the principle of equality and mutual benefit, and emphasised the imperative of fulfilling international legal obligations. The significance of the maintenance of international and regional security and stability was reiterated.

The two sides expressed readiness to continue leveraging the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue and the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation mechanism to deliver new outcomes.

Both sides reaffirmed their readiness to further enhance cooperation under the frameworks of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, make the global governance system more just and equitable, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for humanity. Pakistan highly commended China’s efforts to safeguard developing countries’ right to sustainable development.

The two sides expressed satisfaction over their cooperation within multilateral mechanisms such as the U.N. and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and agreed to deepen coordination and collaboration to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.

They reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, their support for multilateralism and free trade, and their opposition to hegemonism, bullying behaviours violating national sovereignty of other countries, the forming of “small circles” and bloc confrontation. China congratulated Pakistan on its outstanding performance during its U.N. Security Council presidency and expressed full support for Pakistan to work as the rotating president of the SCO from 2026 to 2027.

The two sides agreed to keep in close communication and coordination on the Afghan issue, work with the international community to encourage the Afghan government to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, pursue good-neighborliness, and play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan achieve stable development and integrate into the international community. The two sides called for more visible and verifiable actions to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organisations based in Afghanistan which continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security, and prevent terrorist organizations from using the Afghan territory for terrorism against any other country and to endanger any other country.

The two sides called for an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the implementation of the two-state solution with the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. The two sides also expressed their concern at the situation in the occupied West Bank, and urged the need for urgently addressing it. The two sides expressed willingness to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts for peace and stability in the Middle East.

They reiterated that China and Pakistan will further promote their ironclad ties, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and continue to strengthen their strategic cooperation to break new ground and set new goals in their All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

FM Dar also thanked Chinese FM Yi for the warm hospitality accorded to him and his delegation. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad next year on mutually convenient dates.