Pakistan played ‘very sincere role’ in US-Iran mediation efforts: PM Shehbaz in Beijing

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said Pakistan played a “very sincere role” in mediation efforts between the United States and Iran, as he held high-level talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, focusing on regional stability, bilateral cooperation and deepening strategic ties.

During the meeting at the Great Hall of the People, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding common interests and promoting peace amid growing tensions in the Gulf.

Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in China on Saturday for a four-day official visit, reaching Beijing after a stopover in Hangzhou.

Referring to the current regional crisis, the prime minister said the world was going through “a very critical moment” and stressed the need for collective efforts to restore stability. “We really need to be together for the world as a whole to be at peace,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that Pakistan remained actively engaged in diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation between the United States and Iran. He said Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had just returned from Tehran after consultations with Iranian officials and had traveled overnight to attend Beijing’s engagements.

The Prime Minister added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also been in touch with relevant regional stakeholders to support peace efforts. “We pray to Allah Almighty for peace to be restored. A lot has been covered and things are moving in the right direction,” he said.

He warned that the crisis had impacted regional and global economies, particularly oil-importing countries like Pakistan. “Pakistan, as a net importer of oil and petroleum products, has also felt the economic impact,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also thanked Chinese leaders for their support for peace and ceasefire efforts and acknowledged Beijing’s endorsement of President Xi Jinping’s Four-Point Program and Five-Point Support Program following consultations between the two countries’ foreign ministers.

Describing the visit as “always a great pleasure”, the Prime Minister thanked the Chinese leaders for their warm hospitality.

“Dear brother and friend, thank you very much for this very warm invitation to visit China,” he said. “Every time we come, we see new changes and major developments. »

At the start of his speech, Prime Minister Shehbaz also expressed condolences over Friday’s gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s Shanxi province, which killed 82 people.

“I express my deepest condolences for the tragic gas explosion in a coal mine,” he said, while expressing solidarity with the affected families.

Referring to bilateral relations, the Prime Minister said Pakistan and China were celebrating “75 years of our glorious friendship and diplomatic relations”, adding that the relations established by the founding leaders of the two countries had laid “a solid foundation” which continued to go from strength to strength.

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Earlier, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said the two countries had “maintained close communication and coordination, safeguarded common interests, and injected positive energy into regional peace.”

He added that China is ready to work with Pakistan for “greater solidarity, traditional friendship, firm mutual support and continued broadening practical cooperation to achieve more results in building a community with a shared future for the two countries.”

Upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People, Prime Minister Chehbaz was accorded a guard of honor. The national anthems of Pakistan and China were played as the two leaders stood on the dais to greet and introduce their delegations.

Field Marshal Asim Munir was also present at the event after concluding his visit to Iran.

Both sides are expected to witness the exchange of memorandums of understanding and agreements during the visit. Prime Minister Shehbaz is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later today and attend events marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.