BEIJING: State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang will visit Pakistan from May 5 to 6 to participate in the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
Ning stated that this is Gang’s first visit to Pakistan and that the visit is an important part of the recent intensive interaction between Beijing and Islamabad.
During his visit, Gang will meet with Pakistani leaders and co-chair the fourth strategic dialogue between China and Pakistan’s foreign ministers with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
“Qin Gang will conduct face-to-face and in-depth communication on the relations between the two countries and the international and regional situation,” she added.
The spokesperson furthered that Beijing and Islamabad are all-weather strategic partners and “hardcore” friends, and the friendship between the two countries has been strong for a long time.
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In November last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had visited China, and the leaders of the two countries pointed out the direction for the development of China-Pakistan relations, she added.
Ning stated that China looks forward to promoting the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders during this visit, which will deepen China-Pakistan strategic communication and practical cooperation.
Concerning the trilateral dialogue on Afghanistan, she stated that while the Afghan people are currently going through the most difficult period, they are still facing serious challenges and urgently require more support and assistance from the outside world.
The international community, according to the spokesperson, should strengthen contact and dialogue with the Afghan interim government, as well as support its reconstruction and development.
Ning said that the meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and the dialogue between the FMs of China, Afghanistan and Pakistan are important platforms for exchanges and cooperation on Afghanistan-related issues, which helps to gather the consensus of regional countries on the Arab issue.
“China looks forward to exchanging views with Afghanistan and Pakistan on the situation and trilateral cooperation through this dialogue between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan, expanding the consensus of the three countries, consolidating mutual trust between the three parties, and working together to promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity,” she added.
