Dialogue between Pakistan and China overshadowed by the crisis in Venezuela

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Sunday expressed concern over the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela and called for restraint and de-escalation as Islamabad and Beijing held the seventh round of their strategic dialogue in the Chinese capital that also discussed the unprecedented US raid on Caracus, among other regional and international issues.

The dialogue, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar 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 strongly worded public stance against the use of force, Pakistan issued a carefully calibrated statement later in the day calling for adherence to international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

In a statement released by the foreign ministry, Pakistan said it “attaches great importance to the welfare of the people of Venezuela” and views “with concern the evolving situation” in the South American nation.

Islamabad called for “the need for restraint and de-escalation to end the crisis” and stressed “the need to adhere to the principles of the UN Charter as well as international law to resolve all outstanding issues.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Pakistan was closely monitoring the development 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 strongly 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 while speaking at the strategic dialogue. He noted that the sudden change in the situation in Venezuela had attracted great international attention.

“We never believe that any country can play the role of world policeman, nor do we agree that any country can assert itself as an international judge,” he said, adding that the sovereignty and security of all countries must be fully protected under international law.

Wang also warned that the current international environment had become increasingly unstable and intertwined, and what he described as unilateral bullying was becoming more pronounced.

The crisis in Venezuela erupted after US forces carried out a surprise operation that resulted in the detention of President Maduro, a move that has sparked global debate over sovereignty, legality and the future of the rules-based international order.

According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and China reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and covered key regional and global issues. Discussions focused on 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 and described Pakistan-China friendship as vital to peace, stability and prosperity in the region. The two leaders also agreed to improve coordination in bilateral and multilateral fora.

During the visit, Dar and Wang jointly unveiled the logo marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations, formally launching year-long celebrations.

Dar also visited a special photo exhibition in Beijing highlighting key milestones in the development of bilateral ties, from early diplomatic engagement to the launch of CPEC.

A joint statement from the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue is expected to be issued on Monday, outlining agreed positions and future areas of cooperation.

The dialogue underscored the strategic depth of Pakistan-China relations at a time of intensified geopolitical competition and increasing challenges to international stability.