China’s FM to visit Pakistan after India trip
Source: The Express Tribune | Original Published At: 2025-08-18 02:17:42 UTC
Key Points
- Wang Yi's visit to Islamabad follows his New Delhi trip
- Discussions will cover bilateral ties, regional security, and international developments
- China provided military and diplomatic support to Pakistan during recent conflicts
- Upcoming Pakistan-China strategic dialogue and PM Sharif's SCO Summit attendance
- Pakistan-Bangladesh diplomatic engagements resuming after delays
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS group of nations in the city of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia June 10, 2024. PHOTO:REUTERS
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will arrive in Islamabad this week to lead his country in the Pakistan-China strategic dialogue and hold meetings with the civil and military leadership to discuss bilateral ties along with key regional and international developments.
Official sources told The Express Tribune on Sunday that the top Chinese diplomat will undertake a two-day visit beginning on August 21, flying in directly from New Delhi, where he starts a crucial tour on Monday.
In Islamabad, the Chinese foreign minister will review the current state of bilateral ties between the two countries and discuss key regional and international developments.
His visit comes against a backdrop of a host of developments, including the India-Pakistan military conflict in May, the Iran-Israel war in June and the recent warming of ties between Pakistan and the United States.
China’s support played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s victory over India during the four-day conflict. Although Beijing did not participate directly, Chinese J-10C fighters and PL-15 beyond-visual-range missiles (BVR) helped Pakistan shoot down six Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafales.
China also extended diplomatic backing to Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, supporting Islamabad’s call for a third-party investigation into the incident that brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of full-scale war.
Given the current geostrategic environment, both sides are expected to explore ways to further deepen cooperation. Contacts between the two countries have increased markedly in recent months.
During Wang’s visit, the agenda of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming trip to China is also expected to be finalised. The prime minister is likely to travel later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and hold bilateral meetings with the Chinese leadership.