ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi left for China on Thursday for the second round of the China-Pakistan foreign ministers' strategic dialogue, the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“The Foreign Minister will lead Pakistan side in Second Round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue,” the statement said. “The Chinese side will be led by State Councilor and Foreign Minster Wang Yi.”
The first meeting of the Dialogue was held in March last year.
During the meetings, Pakistan and China are expected to discuss cooperation on coronavirus mitigation efforts, bilateral relations and regional and international issues.
“The visit will play an important role in further strengthening Pakistan-China 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership' and deepen strategic communication and coordination with China on a range of issues,” the foreign office said.
Pakistan and China are longtime allies and partners in the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has seen Beijing pledge over $60 billion for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, central to China’s wider Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to develop land and sea trade routes in Asia and beyond.
China also gave Pakistan a one billion dollar loan last month to pay off part of a three billion dollar loan taken from the Saudi government in 2018. Another tranche of the Saudi payment is due at the end of the month.
