Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan Meets Xi Jinping During SCO Summit

Deputy PM Ishaq Dar Meets Chinese President Xi on SCO Sidelines, Reaffirms Pakistan’s Commitment to Regional Peace

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a joint engagement with the foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, held on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Beijing.

The high-level meeting, convened under China’s presidency of the regional bloc, focused on enhancing regional cooperation among SCO member countries. In his address, President Xi welcomed the delegates and emphasized the importance of multilateralism, security, and collaboration under the SCO framework, which represents the world’s largest population bloc across the Eurasian region.

Mr Dar is currently heading Pakistan’s delegation at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Tianjin. Upon his arrival in Beijing, he was received by senior Chinese foreign ministry officials, including Ms Yu Hong from the Department of Asian Affairs, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalilur Rehman Hashmi.

This year’s summit, themed “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action,” centered on regional security, economic integration, and counterterrorism cooperation. The SCO, founded in 2001, includes China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus, and hosts the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) to coordinate regional security efforts.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Mr Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong support for regional peace, connectivity, and all SCO-led initiatives aimed at promoting stability and economic development across member states.

Phone Call with UN Secretary-General

Separately, Deputy PM Dar received a telephone call from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during his visit. The two discussed Pakistan’s current presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Mr Dar reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to global peace, multilateral diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of international conflicts. He also briefed the Secretary-General on the key initiatives Pakistan plans to undertake during its UNSC presidency.

Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement during UNSC-related events in New York next week. Mr Dar also expressed continued support for the UN and its operational staff, appreciating the organization’s role in conflict resolution and humanitarian efforts worldwide.

Source: Web Desk