ISLAMABAD: Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, 1 November, for a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening relations between Pakistan and China.
The visit is taking place at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Liu was received on arrival by Senator Anusha Rahman Khan and Additional Secretary for Asia Pacific at the Foreign Ministry, Dr Mohammad Faisal.
The Chinese official was scheduled to meet Pakistan’s senior leadership and co-chair a high-level event with Ishaq Dar on 2 November.
Focus on political cooperation
The Foreign Ministry described the visit as part of continuing high-level and party-to-party exchanges between the two countries.
Liu heads the Chinese Communist Party department responsible for maintaining international political relationships, making his visit part of a broader channel of engagement beyond conventional government-to-government diplomacy.
Pakistan and China maintain extensive cooperation across diplomatic, economic and security matters. Their relationship is formally described by both governments as an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Regular exchanges between political leaders and government officials are intended to maintain coordination on bilateral priorities and regional developments.
The latest visit follows ongoing contacts between the two foreign ministries, including a spokespersons’ dialogue held in Islamabad on 26 October.
Meetings in Islamabad
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the planned leadership meetings and joint event but did not publish a detailed agenda or announce specific agreements associated with the visit in its advance statement.
A subsequent official update reported that Dar and Liu addressed a Pakistan–China symposium in Islamabad on 2 November. No specific new bilateral agreement is claimed here.
Liu’s three-day programme is expected to conclude on 3 November.
Further information on the outcomes of the visit will depend on statements issued following the meetings.