Publication of the joint communiqué of the 7th Strategic Dialogue, the two sides reaffirm zero tolerance towards terrorism and promise development
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and China on Monday sent a strong and coordinated message to the Afghan Taliban, calling for “visible and verifiable actions” to dismantle and eliminate all terrorist organizations operating from Afghan soil and to ensure that Afghanistan is not used for terrorist purposes against any other country.
The message was conveyed in a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the seventh round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.
The two sides agreed to stay in close communication and coordination on the Afghan issue and work with the international community to encourage the Afghan government to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, focus on development, seek good-neighborly relations, and play a constructive role in Afghanistan’s stable development and integration into the international community.
According to the statement, Dar visited China from January 3 to 5 at the invitation of Wang Yi and the dialogue took place on January 4. The two sides had extensive exchanges on bilateral relations, regional and international issues and cooperation in the political, strategic, defense, security, economic and popular fields.
Pakistan and China have announced the launch of commemorative activities in 2026 to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, describing the occasion as an opportunity to further consolidate bilateral friendship and expand cooperation in new areas.
Reiterating that the two countries are ironclad strategic cooperative partners enjoying “ironclad friendship”, the two sides stressed that the steady growth of China-Pakistan relations is of strategic importance to the peace, stability and development of the region.
They agreed to implement the “Action Plan for Fostering an Even Closer China-Pakistan Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025-2029)” and keep this framework at the forefront of China’s neighborhood diplomacy.
Islamabad praised China’s development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, congratulated Beijing on the successful completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan, and praised China’s people-centered development philosophy.
In return, China congratulated Pakistan’s leaders for achieving macroeconomic stability and laying the foundation for growth under Pakistan’s National Economic Transformation Plan (URAAN Pakistan 2024-2029).
Both sides reaffirmed their unwavering support for each other’s core interests. Pakistan reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle, its support for China’s efforts towards national reunification and its opposition to any form of “Taiwan independence.”
Pakistan also reiterated its support to China on issues related to Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. China, in turn, reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, development path and efforts to combat terrorism.
China commended Pakistan for the comprehensive measures taken to combat terrorism and protect Chinese personnel, projects and institutions, recognizing Pakistan’s contributions and sacrifices over the years.
The two sides reiterated zero tolerance for terrorism, opposed double standards in the fight against terrorism, and agreed to deepen security cooperation to ensure the smooth and safe progress of Belt and Road cooperation.
On the economic front, both sides agreed to build an upgraded version 2.0 of CPEC, focusing on industry, agriculture and mining, accelerating the development of Gwadar Port, ensuring smooth passage along the Karakoram Highway and strengthening Pakistan’s capacity for sustainable development.
They also agreed to deepen cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, vocational training, education and cultural exchanges. The year-round opening of the Khunjerab Pass was described as an opportunity to further strengthen trade and people-to-people contacts, while third-party participation in CPEC was welcomed as per the agreed modalities.
Pakistan appreciated China’s support for its fiscal and financial sectors, while both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in financial and banking forums. Satisfaction was also expressed over the expansion of space cooperation, including the expected early entry of Pakistani astronauts into the Chinese Space Station.
On regional and global issues, both countries reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Charter, their opposition to unilateral actions and the need to resolve differences through dialogue. Pakistan informed China of the developments in Jammu and Kashmir, while China reiterated that the dispute should be resolved peacefully in accordance with UN resolutions and bilateral agreements.
Both sides also called for an unconditional, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the two-state solution, and expressed concern over the situation in the occupied West Bank.
The two countries committed to closer coordination within multilateral frameworks, including the UN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, reaffirmed their opposition to hegemonism and bloc politics, and agreed to continue strengthening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
Dar thanked Wang Yi for the hospitality extended during the visit, and both sides agreed that the next round of the strategic dialogue would be held in Islamabad next year on mutually convenient dates.
