ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China on Tuesday agreed on a Five-Point Initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading while also demanding humanitarian assistance to be allowed to all war-affected areas.
The five-point agreement was released simultaneously from Islamabad and Beijing before Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar returned to Pakistan, clearly stressing urgency of dialogue and diplomacy.
There was no direct mention of the United States in the Five-Point Initiative. The agreement announced by the Foreign Office here came at the conclusion of a bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the State Guest House in Beijing.
Dar had flown into the Chinese capital on a one-day visit as Pakistan continued efforts to reduce the escalating tensions in the Middle East. Before he landed, the Chinese Foreign Office spokeswoman Mao Ning said that “China and Pakistan will strengthen strategic communication and coordination on the Iran situation during Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar’s visit to China on Tuesday. Dar’s trip will mark his second trip to China in three months.”
It was an opportunity also for Dar to brief the Chinese foreign minister on the recently concluded four nations’ foreign ministers meeting in Islamabad, which centred around encouraging Iran and the United States to hold direct talks in Islamabad. China has supported Pakistan’s efforts in this regard.
Tuesday’s five-point agreement emphasised the security of shipping lanes, which has affected nations worldwide. “The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible,” said the FO statement.
The issue of the Strait of Hormuz was earlier discussed by Dar and Wang Yi in a telephone call in which China said that initiating peace talks in the war involving Iran “is no easy task”, but noted that such efforts would be “conducive to restoring normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”. Both the sides also called out for the start of peace talks as soon as possible. They pointed out that sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded.
“Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks,” added the statement.
Security of nonmilitary targets formed part of the Five-Point Initiative, which called for the principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. “China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants,” said the statement.
Finally, both the sides recalled the Primacy of United Nations Charter, and called for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realising lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Earlier, China’s Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs Yue Xiaoyong and Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi received DPM Dar on arrival in Beijing, the Foreign Office said. Dar visited the Diaoyutai State Guest House for a bilateral meeting with Wang Yi.
According to the official statement, DPM Dar met with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Beijing upon the invitation of the latter. The meeting was held in an exceptionally warm and cordial atmosphere, featuring hours of engagement from restricted talks to delegation-level discussions. The two sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, exchanged views on regional developments in West Asia, and discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest.
As Pakistan and China commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, both the sides reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Particular emphasis was placed on advancing high-quality development, deepening economic and strategic cooperation, including under CPEC 2.0, and enhancing high-level exchanges and collaboration across all domains.
On the evolving situation in West Asia, both the sides underscored their shared commitment to peace, stability and dialogue, and issued a Five-Point Initiative aimed at promoting regional peace and stability. Foreign Minister Wang Yi appreciated Pakistan’s constructive and consistent diplomatic efforts in this regard. The two sides also reaffirmed their close coordination at multilateral fora and agreed to remain in regular and close contact. The visit once again reflected the enduring warmth, mutual trust and iron-clad friendship that define Pakistan-China relations.
Meanwhile, as bilateral talks started in Beijing, Iran’s Ambassador in Pakistan Reza Amiri Mohgadam, in a statement on X, said that Iran appreciated the initiative and goodwill and good office by the friendly and brotherly country of Pakistan to stop the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and restore peace and stability to the region. “Iran welcomes Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic initiatives based on goodwill to restore peace and bringing lasting stability to the region. The efforts to revive diplomacy, ending unjust and illegal aggressions against Iran, restoring world’s confidence in the remains of international laws and norms are commendable.
“The efforts underscore the importance of diplomatic and political solutions, based on established norms for respect to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, promoting peace and restoring peace and lasting stability in the region,” he tweeted.
Earlier, Dar spoke with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, who expressed appreciation for hospitality extended during recent visit to Pakistan for the meeting of four foreign ministers in Islamabad. Both reaffirmed the strength of Pakistan-Türkiye bilateral relations and agreed to remain in close contact.
