Beijing denounces the use of force; Islamabad calls for restraint; CPEC and trade relations in the spotlight at the 7th Strategic Dialogue
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi unveil the logo of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, in Beijing. Photo: PPI
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Sunday expressed concern over the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela, calling for restraint and de-escalation, as Islamabad and Beijing held the seventh round of their strategic dialogue in the Chinese capital, which also discussed the unprecedented US raid on Caracus, as well as other regional and international issues.
The dialogue, co-chaired by Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, took place amid heightened global tensions following the US raid in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
While China took a strong public stance against the use of force, Pakistan issued a carefully calibrated statement later in the day, calling for respect for international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan said it “attaches great importance to the well-being of the Venezuelan people” and views “with concern the developing situation” in the South American country.
Islamabad stressed “the need to exercise restraint and de-escalation to end the crisis” and stressed “the need to adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter as well as international law to resolve all outstanding issues.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan was closely monitoring the developments and remained committed to ensuring the safety and security of members of the Pakistani community in Venezuela.
Earlier in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi sharply criticized unilateral actions and the use or threat of force, warning against the erosion of international norms.
“China always opposes the use or threat of force, as well as any imposition of one country’s will on another,” Wang said during his speech at the strategic dialogue. He stressed that the sudden change in the situation in Venezuela had attracted wide international attention.
“We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we accept that any country can claim to be an international judge,” he said, adding that the sovereignty and security of all countries must be fully protected by international law.
Wang also warned that the current international environment has become increasingly unstable and intractable, and what he called unilateral bullying is becoming more and more pronounced.
The crisis in Venezuela erupted after U.S. forces carried out a surprise operation that resulted in the detention of President Maduro, a move that sparked a global debate over sovereignty, legality and the future of the rules-based international order.
According to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, the Pakistan-China strategic dialogue reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and covered key regional and global issues. The discussions focused on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade and investment, multilateral cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, terming the friendship between Pakistan and China vital for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen coordination in bilateral and multilateral forums.
During the visit, Dar and Wang jointly unveiled the logo marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, officially launching the year-long celebrations.
Dar also visited a special photo exhibition in Beijing highlighting key milestones in the evolution of bilateral relations, from early diplomatic engagements to the launch of CPEC.
A joint statement from the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue is expected to be released on Monday, outlining agreed positions and future areas of cooperation.
The dialogue highlighted the strategic depth of Pakistan-China relations at a time of intensifying geopolitical competition and growing challenges to international stability.
