Dar, Chinese FM discusses bilateral ties on the sidelines of the SCO summit

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SCO-CFM) in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, where he exchanged views on bilateral relations, regional development and cooperation in multilateral fora.

According to a post on X by the Ministry of External Affairs (MoFA), FM Dar and his Chinese counterpart had “a warm and productive exchange of views.” The former also thanked Yi for “appreciating Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as highlighted during his remarks at the SCO CFM.”

Yi “also conveyed best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of State and hosting of the SCO Summit in 2027,” MoFA said.

Earlier, FM Dar invited the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, to discuss regional and global developments, as well as the evolving role of the SCO as an important platform for cooperation.

According to the MoFA, the FM met Dar Zhaparov at his state residence in Cholpon-Ata, “and conveyed the warm greetings of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”

The foreign minister “thanked President Zhaparov for the gracious hospitality extended during the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” MoFA said.

FM Dar “also underlined the importance of continued cooperation among SCO member states as Pakistan prepares to take over the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27.”

In an earlier post on X, MoFA stated that FM Dar is “attending the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan,” and joined other foreign ministers from the SCO member states for the traditional family photo ahead of the meeting.

FM Dar traveled to the Kyrgyz Republic yesterday to attend the meeting after concluding a visit to Manila. According to MoFA, FM Dar was invited by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, who is leading the Pakistani delegation to the SCO-CFM meeting scheduled for 23-24. July.

The foreign ministers of SCO member countries, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, would attend the CFM meeting, the MoFA had announced.

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The CFM is the third highest forum in the SCO format. It focuses on the issues of international relations as well as the foreign and security policy of the SCO.

FM Dar attended the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting in Manila, Philippines, yesterday before traveling to Cholpon-Ata in the Kyrgyz Republic.

He also held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of the ARF ministerial meeting and “reviewed Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity and other key areas, as well as enhance coordination in multilateral fora,” MoFA had stated.

At the ARF meeting, FM Dar urged the international community not to let the recent diplomatic gains in the Gulf go to waste, saying “we must not let this opportunity slip through our hands” as he called for sustained dialogue to ensure lasting peace, according to the MoFA.

Addressing the meeting, FM Dar said recent developments in the Gulf had affected countries across the region and stressed that Pakistan had done “everything within its capacity” to help restore peace and stability.

“We cannot afford to ignore these developments,” he said.