On Tuesday, China urged a full and lasting ceasefire between Pakistan and India and asked both countries to settle their disputes through positive dialogue.
In a meeting with visiting Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated Beijing's staunch support for its "ironclad friend" Pakistan to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Dar's visit is the first high-level Pakistani delegation to China after India's surgical strikes on May 7, under 'Operation Sindoor', targeting terror infrastructure throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These strikes were in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack at Pahalgam which took 26 lives.
Addressing Dar, Wang said, "China welcomes and supports Pakistan and India to address their differences properly through dialogue, reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and seek basic solutions." This approach, Wang added, serves the long-term interests of both sides, supports regional peace and stability, and meets the expectations of the international community, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Reiterating China's dedication, Wang further said, "As an ironclad friend, China will, as always, staunchly support Pakistan in upholding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in seeking a path to development in line with its national conditions, in firmly fighting terrorism, and in making more contributions to international and regional affairs," as the Global Times quoted.
The discussions also covered enhancing regional cooperation and deepening collaboration within multilateral frameworks. Besides Wang, Dar met with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China, to talk about the military conflict between India and Pakistan and New Delhi’s decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
After the discussions, Wang reiterated that China would deepen the all-weather strategic partnership with Pakistan and push forward the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future. He termed this collaboration a model for the entire region.
Wang laid out plans for building an "upgraded version" of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), looking to deepen cooperation in areas like industry, agriculture, energy, mineral resources, human resource development and counter-terrorism, the Global Times reported.
Dar informed Wang of recent progress since India and Pakistan on May 10 committed to stopping fighting after intense cross-border drone and missile battles over several days.
He thanked China for its commitment to promoting peace and justice, highlighting Pakistan's resolve to protect its sovereignty and still remaining willing to engage in talks with India to de-escalate tensions.
Dar also confirmed Pakistan's close relationship with China, its firm commitment to the one-China policy, and its backing for China's actions to promote its national interests and dignity. He was optimistic about further broad-based cooperation between the two nations.
Responding to concerns about security, Dar highlighted Pakistan's resolve to safeguard the safety of Chinese personnel and projects within Pakistan in view of repeated attacks by militants on laborers working on CPEC projects.
A press statement by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry underscored that in his meeting with Wang and another with Liu, Dar had "in-depth consultations" regarding the changing situation in South Asia, the prospects for the future course of Pakistan-China relations, and intentions regarding "CPEC 2.0.
The ministry further stated that during the talks, regional peace and stability after the India-Pakistan ceasefire were also discussed, during which both sides stressed maintaining the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Dar also thanked China for its ongoing support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to a peaceful neighborhood while also asserting its ability to defend its people and land.
He emphasized the global community should pay heed to India's decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold and pointed out that settling the Jammu and Kashmir conflict in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions is imperative for South Asian sustainable peace.
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