China's Foreign Ministry on Monday said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's visit to Beijing reflects the importance the Pakistani government places on strengthening China-Pakistan relations.
"China and Pakistan are all weather strategic cooperative partners, maintaining close, high-level exchanges and cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during her regular, commenting on Dar's three-day official visit.
She affirmed that China is ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important understandings reached between the two leaders, enhance strategic communication, and deepen bilateral cooperation. This, she said, would help advance China-Pakistan relations and accelerate the development of a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.
Addressing a question on India-Pakistan tensions, Mao reiterated China's consistent position. "India and Pakistan are both important neighbours of China. We have always valued our relationships with both countries," she said.
China, she added, remains committed to the principles of good neighbourliness and takes an objective and fair stance on regional issues.
"Since tensions emerged between India and Pakistan, China has consistently called on both sides to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. We support the ceasefire currently in place and are willing to play a constructive role in achieving a lasting and comprehensive peace, contributing to regional stability," Mao concluded.
Dar on Monday arrived in Beijing on a three-day official visit from May 19-21.
He was received at the airport by senior Chinese officials and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi, a DPM Office's statement said.
In Beijing, Dar will hold comprehensive discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and other senior Chinese leaders, including key members of the Chinese Communist Party, according to a Foreign Office press release.
The meetings will focus on current regional developments and multiple dimensions of Pakistan-China relations.
The visit is part of high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China.
Prior to his departure, DPM Dar told the media that China was a major trading partner of Pakistan and that both countries enjoyed an iron-clad close relationship.
He said that during the last three weeks, he had two telephonic interactions with FM Wang Yi, who had also invited him to visit China.
Dar said that his meetings with the Chinese leadership would mark discussions on political, local, regional and global issues, besides recent tensions between Pakistan and India.
To a question, he referred to his telephonic interactions with many counterparts worldwide, saying that Pakistan had already exposed the Indian blame-game against Pakistan, including attack on any nuclear installation.
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