Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Qin Gang arrived in Islamabad on Friday for a two-day visit, during which he will attend the fifth China-Pakistan-Afghanistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Dialogue.
Qin was received by high officials of Pakistan’s Foreign Office at Nur Khan Airbase. He is expected to meet with the leader of Pakistan and co-chair the strategic dialogue with Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The two sides will have in-depth communication on bilateral relations and the international and regional situation, especially the Afghan peace process. China, Pakistan and Afghanistan are all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional bloc that also includes India, Russia and four Central Asian countries.
Qin’s visit to Pakistan comes after he attended the meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers hosted by India in Goa on May 4 and 5. It is his first visit to Pakistan since he took charge as China’s top diplomat in March this year.
China and Pakistan are close allies and strategic partners, who have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields. China has also been actively involved in facilitating dialogue and reconciliation among different parties in Afghanistan, as well as providing economic and humanitarian assistance to the war-torn country.