Dar to hold ‘in-depth discussions’ on regional developments in China tomorrow

The Foreign Office said on Monday that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will undertake an official visit to China on Tuesday (tomorrow), at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“Pakistan and China enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, marked by close coordination and regular consultations on regional and international issues,” the statement said.

It added that 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.

The development comes as Pakistan has already concluded hosting a quadrilateral meeting with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye, represented by their foreign ministers, in a bid to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing Middle East tensions.

The Foreign Office noted that Dar’s decision to proceed with the China visit, despite medical advice to rest following a hairline shoulder fracture sustained a day earlier, underscores the importance Pakistan attaches to its relationship with China.

Dar has sustained a hairline fracture in his shoulder, while receiving the foreign minister of Egypt in Islamabad on Sunday.

A video of the deputy prime minister is doing rounds on social media wherein he can be seen losing his balance and falling on the ground while proceeding towards a stage for photoshoot with his Egyptian counterpart.

Dar’s son and Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Ali Dar in a tweet said his father, despite sustaining an injury during the reception of the Egyptian foreign minister, completed all highly important meetings throughout the day on painkillers, Alhamdulillah, in the best possible manner.

“At around 9 PM, after recording the official statement and concluding what was a significant day for Pakistan on a strong note, he underwent a medical check-up at his family’s insistence. His X-rays are, overall, satisfactory. However, there is a hairline fracture in his shoulder,” read a tweet by Ali.

In the coming few days, he said, Dar’s pain will be managed through medications and other precautionary measures, Insha’Allah. “Thank you all for your messages, prayers, and kind wishes,” he added.

At the invitation of DPM Dar, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan; and the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Dr Badr Abdelatty, visited Islamabad to attend 2nd consultative quadrilateral meeting held here on Sunday.