Deputy PM Meets President Xi on SCO Summit Sidelines

News Desk

Beijing: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, connectivity, and multilateral cooperation under the SCO framework.

The meeting took place during a high-level joint engagement with foreign ministers from SCO member states, held under China’s presidency. President Xi welcomed the participating delegates and emphasized the need to strengthen multilateralism, regional security, and economic collaboration across the Eurasian region.

Dar is leading Pakistan’s delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting, currently underway in Tianjin. He was received in Beijing by senior officials of China’s Foreign Ministry, including Ms. Yu Hong from the Department of Asian Affairs, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalilur Rehman Hashmi.

The summit, held under the theme “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action,” focused on bolstering collective regional security, enhancing economic integration, and advancing counterterrorism cooperation among member states. Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, Russia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. Its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) plays a pivotal role in coordinating security measures.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Mr. Dar reiterated Islamabad’s strong support for all SCO-led initiatives aimed at promoting regional stability, economic development, and shared prosperity.

Phone Call with UN Chief

Separately, Mr. 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) and the country’s priorities for the month.

During the call, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to global peace, multilateral diplomacy, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. He also briefed the UN chief on key initiatives Pakistan plans to undertake during its UNSC presidency to strengthen these objectives.

Both leaders agreed to continue close engagement and hold further meetings during upcoming UNSC-related events in New York next week. Dar also expressed Pakistan’s appreciation for the UN’s global peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts, assuring full support for the organization and its staff.