ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said on Wednesday the example of China mediating the revival of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran showed that dialogue was the “only pathway toward lasting peace and stability.”
The minister was addressing the opening ceremony of the third edition of the annual ‘Islamabad Security Dialogue-2023,’ organized by the Pakistan government’s National Security Division. The conference will run for two days and features over 40 leading international and Pakistani speakers who will discuss global economic and international law challenges, climate change and how transitions in the global order are impacting middle powers.
“Pakistan deeply appreciates the Chinese role in mediating between the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia and Iran,” Iqbal said, adding that this would help usher a new era of stability and cooperation in the region.
The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Beijing last month for the first formal gathering of their top diplomats in more than seven years, after China brokered a deal in March to restore relations between the top regional powers. The two nations have since been working on modalities to reopen embassies and consulates.
“This is a positive manifestation of the fact that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only pathway toward lasting peace and stability,” the planning minister added.
He said Pakistan too wanted to contribute to consensus building on key international issues such as counterterrorism, peace, climate change and infrastructure development.
“Our strategic thrust remains to preserve our relationship with all the major powers and seek their positive convergence for developmental partnerships and economic growth,” he said, adding that his country believed that lowering of tensions was crucial for conflict resolution and shared economic prosperity.
“While China remained our major investment partner and the largest source of imports, the United States and European Union are Pakistan’s largest export markets, while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the major source of remittances for Pakistan’s economy,” Iqbal said, highlighting Pakistan’s multiple foreign ties.
