Pakistan, China set to deepen strategic ties during senior CPC official’s visit

Pakistan is hosting a senior Chinese Communist Party official on Monday for talks aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, as the two countries seek to expand their longstanding strategic partnership.

Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, is visiting Pakistan for the first time on an official invitation from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Liu will meet the country’s leadership and co-chair a high-level event with Dar in Islamabad.

“The visit forms part of the ongoing high-level and party-to-party exchanges between Pakistan and China, reflecting the two countries’ shared commitment to further strengthening their All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership,” the ministry said.

China is Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a key strategic ally. Both countries maintain close cooperation in trade, defence, infrastructure and regional security.

The visit comes days after Pakistan and China established an 18-outlet news exchange network and a dedicated fact-checking mechanism under a newly launched information corridor, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.

The corridor’s business component has also opened its first regional office in Karachi. Its think-tank component, led by the Pakistan-China Institute, will connect research institutions from both countries for joint discussions, research and publications.

China has pledged more than $65 billion in investment in Pakistan through road, infrastructure and development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Several Chinese private-sector manufacturers have also entered joint ventures in Pakistan.

The International Department of the CPC Central Committee manages the party’s relations with political parties and organisations worldwide and conducts foreign exchanges to support China’s international engagement.