Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing Tuesday to reaffirm bilateral ties and discuss possible diplomatic solutions to the Iran war, now in its fifth week.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed Tuesday that the two ministers will work to maintain expanded communication channels amid the war and jointly push for a peaceful solution to the conflict.
“It’s believed that the two foreign ministers will step up strategic communication and coordination on the situation in Iran and other international and regional issues of mutual interest, jointly call for peace and a just position, and make new effort to help end the conflict and bring about peace and stability in the region,” Ms. Ning told reporters at a daily briefing.
The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which began on Feb. 28, has allowed Pakistan to emerge as an unlikely peace partner after years of relative obscurity in regional politics.
Pakistan has been the key mediator in the purported talks between Washington and Tehran. However, Iran has denied participating in active negotiations with the U.S., and President Trump has refused to name its negotiating partner in Tehran.
Mr. Dar hosted a series of bilateral talks among the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in Islamabad on Sunday, hoping to shore up support for peace in the region. The meeting reportedly focused on strategies for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but it remains unclear what concrete progress was made.
The warring nations, the U.S., Israel and Iran, did not participate in the Islamabad talks.
China, and Mr. Wang in particular, has been supportive of Pakistan’s peace efforts. Mr. Wang praised Mr. Dar’s diplomatic overtures in a phone call Sunday, adding that it may be the “only viable path to avoid further casualties and losses.”
China and Pakistan have already agreed upon a basic framework for diplomatic strategy ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. Notably, it includes promoting a ceasefire, supporting continued peace talks and developing a plan to immediately open critical waterways.
