Pakistan-China friendship stood test of time for 75 years: Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2026) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, while welcoming a parliamentary delegation

led by Vice Chairman of Standing Committee of National People’s Congress of China Cai Dafeng to the Senate

on Wednesday, said that Pakistan-China friendship had successfully stood the test of time over the past 75 years.

Speaking in the Upper House, Ishaq Dar said Pakistan and China did enjoy an all-weather strategic cooperative

partnership, founded on mutual trust, mutual respect, and bilateral benefit.

He said Pakistan deeply appreciated China’s unwavering support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity,

while Pakistan firmly adhered to the One-China principle and consistently supported China on its core

interests and issues.

The Deputy Prime Minister said both countries shared a common vision on regional and global issues and

maintained close coordination at the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and

other international forums to promote peace and safeguard the interests of developing nations.

Referring to recent tensions in the Gulf and the middle East, he said Pakistan and China remained in close

diplomatic contact and continued to work jointly for peace and stability in the region.

He said he had visited Beijing on March 31 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, where

both sides proposed a five-point peace initiative regarding the regional conflict, which later received

support from dozens of countries.

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Highlighting the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Ishaq Dar termed it the

flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative and a shining symbol of bilateral friendship.

He said CPEC had transformed Pakistan’s economic landscape and expressed confidence that its

next phase would focus on industrialization, agriculture, information technology, and socio-economic

development.

Recalling the early discussions that led to the launch of CPEC, Mohammad Ishaq Dar said Pakistan had

been facing severe electricity shortages following the 2013 general elections, with load-shedding lasting

up to 18 hours in urban areas and 20 hours in rural regions.

He said China extended massive support to help Pakistan overcome the energy crisis, for which the

nation would always remain grateful.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would undertake an official visit to China

from May 23 to 26, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

He said the visit would include celebrations marking 75 years of diplomatic relations, meetings with the

Chinese leadership including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, as well as discussions under

the Pakistan-China Political Forum and the CPEC Joint Consultative Mechanism.

Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties and said the enduring

friendship between Islamabad and Beijing would continue contributing to regional peace, prosperity,

and progress.

APP/raz-rzr