BEIJING/TIANJIN, July 16, 2025 — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a high-profile meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday, as he represented Pakistan at a joint call of foreign ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.
President Xi welcomed foreign ministers from the SCO at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation under the SCO framework — a powerful Eurasian body comprising China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Central Asian nations. The foreign ministers’ meeting serves as a precursor to the annual SCO Summit, scheduled to take place in Tianjin this autumn.
“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 said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after his meeting with Xi, conveying the warm greetings of Pakistan’s leadership, government, and people.
Following the session in Beijing, Dar traveled to Tianjin to lead Pakistan’s delegation at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. Other top diplomats in attendance included India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, and Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.
Bilateral Diplomacy on the Sidelines
On the sidelines of the SCO meetings, Dar held a series of bilateral engagements aimed at reinforcing Pakistan’s regional diplomacy and multilateral cooperation.
In separate meetings with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev Zheenbek Moldokanovic, both sides reaffirmed their longstanding ties and expressed mutual interest in expanding cooperation across sectors including trade, connectivity, and regional security.
Dar also met with the foreign ministers of Iran, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.
“Always good to exchange views for strengthening regional understanding and cooperation in such a challenging time,” he posted on X after the discussions.
Strengthening Regional Ties
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Dar’s engagements align with Pakistan’s strategic vision for enhanced regional integration and economic cooperation through platforms like the SCO. The DPM’s visit is expected to further bolster bilateral ties and highlight Pakistan’s commitment to collective regional progress.
Dar arrived in Beijing on Monday night and was received by senior Chinese officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Ambassador Yu Hong, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil ur Rehman Hashmi.
