RAWALPINDI: China has reaffirmed its ironclad strategic partnership with Pakistan and acknowledged the country’s pivotal role in promoting peace in the region.
The reaffirmation of this robust bilateral strategic partnership came during the official visit of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to Beijing. Welcoming FM Asim Munir, the Chinese leadership lauded the armed forces of Pakistan as a cornerstone of resilience and a vital contributor to peace in South Asia. FM Asim Munir held a series of high-level meetings in Beijing with senior political and military leadership. He called on Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The discussions focused on the evolving regional and global political landscape, connectivity initiatives under the CPEC, and the need for coordinated responses to shared geopolitical challenges, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the depth of bilateral engagement and reiterated their shared commitment to sovereign equality, multilateral cooperation and long-term regional stability.
On the military side, FM Asim Munir held meetings with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) General Zhang Youxia, Political Commissar of the PLA Army General Chen Hui and Chief of Staff of PLA Army Lieutenant General Cai Zhai Jun. Upon arrival at the PLA Army Headquarters, the COAS was presented with a guard of honour, symbolizing the longstanding camaraderie between the two armed forces. These engagements featured comprehensive exchanges on defence and security cooperation, including counterterrorism collaboration, joint training, defence modernization, and enhanced institutional linkages. Emphasis was placed on improving operational interoperability and strategic coordination to confront hybrid and transnational threats.
The Chinese military leadership reiterated full confidence in the strength of bilateral defence partnership and acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in promoting regional peace. FM Asim Munir appreciated China’s consistent support and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further expanding military-to-military cooperation across all domains. The visit reflects the growing depth of politico-military ties between the two brotherly nations and underscores their shared resolve to advance regional security through sustained high-level dialogue and engagements, the statement said.
During his meeting with FM Munir , Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the safety of Chinese nationals and projects. “China supports Pakistan in resolutely combating all forms of terrorism and hopes that the Pakistan military will continue to make every effort to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions,” Wang said during the meeting with FM Munir on Thursday, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry.
Meanwhile, apart from the appreciation Pakistan received from its ‘iron brother’ China during the official visit of FM Munir, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror as he met Foreign Minister/Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington, marking a rare high-level interaction between the two countries.
Ties between Islamabad and Washington have improved following a prolonged diplomatic chill. There has been a visible thaw, marked by US President Donald Trump’s warm reception of FM Munir at the White House last month. The acknowledgement also holds significance as Pakistan has maintained that it has been a victim of terrorism and repeatedly called on India to ensure that it does not sponsor terrorism against Islamabad.
In his first meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, lasting 40 minutes, Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s unmatched sacrifices in the war on terror and praised the country’s constructive role in global and regional peace. Dar was warmly received upon arrival at the US State Department, where Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh was also present. The meeting was held at the delegation level, with senior officials from both sides in attendance. The two sides discussed a broad range of issues including bilateral ties, prospects for enhanced cooperation in trade, economy, investment, counterterrorism and regional peace. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and agreed to work together for shared goals.
Dar appreciated President Donald Trump’s role in de-escalating Pakistan-India tensions, calling his efforts commendable. He said Pakistan seeks deeper and more stable ties with the US. Dar expressed optimism over progress in trade talks and noted alignment in both countries’ interests and perspectives on regional peace. He also stated that the Pakistani diaspora continues to act as a bridge between the two nations.
In March, the US State Department also said that US-Pakistan cooperation on counter-terrorism remains crucial after Islamabad authorities detained Daesh-K terrorist Sharifullah and extradited him to Washington, where he is on trial for the 2021 suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport. Trump met FM Munir, discussing trade, economy, AI, energy, and tech. After the meeting, Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize for helping end a Pakistan-India armed conflict. Trump claimed he met FM Munir to thank him for ending the war. Pakistan praises Trump’s role in the ceasefire, but India denies US involvement. Trump has offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute, a stance backed by the US State Department.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar underscored the importance of expanding mutually beneficial bilateral trade and exploring prospects for enhancing collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sectors.
According to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the two leaders also discussed prospects for deepening bilateral counterterrorism cooperation, including countering ISIS-K, and the upcoming US-Pakistan Counterterrorism Dialogue in Islamabad this August.
Rubio expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s continued willingness to play a constructive role in mediating conversations with Iran and its commitment to preserving regional stability.
