Dar, Chinese FM discuss bilateral ties on SCO summit sidelines

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (SCO-CFM) in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, exchanging views on bilateral relations, regional developments, and cooperation within multilateral forums.

According to a post on X by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), FM Dar and his Chinese counterpart “held a warm and productive exchange of views.” The former also thanked Yi for “appreciating Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability, as highlighted during his remarks at the SCO CFM.”

Yi also “conveyed best wishes to Pakistan for its upcoming chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State and hosting of the SCO summit in 2027,” MoFA said.

Earlier, FM Dar called on the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov, discussing regional and global developments, as well as the evolving role of the SCO as an important platform for cooperation.

According to MoFA, FM Dar met Zhaparov at his state residence in Cholpon-Ata, “conveying the warm greetings of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.”

The foreign minister “thanked President Zhaparov for the gracious hospitality extended during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting,” MoFA said.

FM Dar also “underscored the importance of continued collaboration among SCO Member States as Pakistan prepares to assume the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27.”

In an earlier post on X, MoFA stated that FM Dar “is participating in the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan,” joining fellow foreign ministers of the SCO member states for the traditional family photograph ahead of the meeting.

FM Dar departed for the Kyrgyz Republic yesterday to attend the meeting after concluding a visit to Manila. According to MoFA, FM Dar was invited by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Zheenbek Kulubaev, leading the Pakistani delegation for the SCO-CFM meeting scheduled for July 23-24.

The foreign ministers of SCO member states, including Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, would participate in the CFM meeting, MoFA had announced.

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The CFM is the third-highest forum in the SCO format. It focuses on the issues of international relations, as well as the foreign and security policies of the SCO.

FM Dar participated in the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) ministerial meeting in Manila, Philippines, yesterday, before he departed for Cholpon-Ata in the Kyrgyz Republic.

He also held a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov ahead of the ARF Ministerial Meeting and “reviewed Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, and other key areas, as well as enhancing coordination at multilateral forums,” MoFA had stated.

At the ARF meeting, FM Dar urged the international community not to let the recent diplomatic gains in the Gulf go to waste, saying “we must not let this opportunity slip through our hands”, as he called for sustained dialogue to secure lasting peace, according to MoFA.

Addressing the meeting, FM Dar said the recent developments in the Gulf had affected countries across the region and stressed that Pakistan had done “everything within its capacity” to help restore peace and stability.

“We cannot afford to ignore these developments,” he said.