China lauded on Tuesday Pakistan’s proactive and positive role in pursuing regional peace, particularly through diplomatic channels including the United Nations Security Council, amid heightened tensions following the recent Iran-Israel conflict.
On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an emergency session, where China, Russia, and Pakistan jointly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad and the two leaders discussed the evolving regional security situation and matters of mutual interest.
Ambassador of China H.E. Jiang Zaidong called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. pic.twitter.com/FPibbrQrUE
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) June 24, 2025
During the meeting, the Chinese envoy praised Pakistan’s consistent efforts at international forums for a peaceful resolution to regional challenges, emphasising the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
Earlier today, the premier also met separately with the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss the rapidly deteriorating Middle East situation, particularly in the wake of Iran’s missile strike on the United States’ Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
The missile attack, carried out late Monday night, came amid Iran’s vows to retaliate for recent US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Saudi Arabia and Qatar and stressed that diplomacy remained the only path to lasting peace in the region.
Read: PM speaks with Qatar, Saudi envoys
Ambassador Jiang also briefed Shehbaz on various dimensions of Pakistan-China bilateral cooperation and informed him that preparations were already underway to ensure the success of Shehbaz’s upcoming visit to China, scheduled for late August 2025.
PM Shehbaz extended his warm regards and good wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
He expressed his sincere best wishes for the successful holding of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and acknowledged the ongoing consultations between the two countries regarding his participation in the event.
Recalling the historic, deep-rooted, and iron-clad “All Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” between Pakistan and China, Shehbaz reaffirmed Islamabad’s firm commitment to work closely with Beijing on the timely and effective implementation of key projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He highlighted several priority initiatives, including the Main Line-1 (ML-I) railway upgrade, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway (KKH), the operationalisation of Gwadar Port, and extended cooperation in agriculture, industrial development, and the IT sector.
Read more: Global turmoil If Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz — but Pakistan may get a pass
The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s deep appreciation for China’s long-standing financial and economic support, stating that Beijing’s assistance had helped stabilise Pakistan’s economy and contributed to the improvement of the country’s macroeconomic outlook. This support, he noted, was vital for achieving the government’s broader socio-economic development agenda.
In response, Ambassador Jiang reaffirmed China’s commitment to its strategic partnership with Pakistan and reiterated Beijing’s support for regional peace, stability, and deeper economic integration.
In a separate development, the Foreign Office on Tuesday released a statement expressing Pakistan’s deep concern over the growing regional tensions.
It strongly condemned violations of the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations and urged all sides to adhere to international law and exercise restraint.
The statement also reiterated Pakistan’s consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to resolving conflicts, and called for immediate steps to de-escalate tensions to avoid further destabilisation in the region.
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