ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday discussed the situation in the Middle East and his country’s de-escalation efforts with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong during a meeting, according to a statement released by his office.
The meeting took place amid Pakistan’s intensified diplomatic engagements in the region following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which triggered retaliatory attacks and heightened fears of a broader conflict.
Islamabad has been positioning itself as a potential intermediary, with media reports suggesting it has been conveying messages between Washington and Tehran since the start of the crisis.
Jiang called on Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and other senior officials also present.
“The Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting de-escalation and regional stability while discussing the regional situation,” the statement said.
The meeting came as recent media reports claimed that US-Iran talks can take place in Islamabad.
So far, there has been no confirmation of such negotiations from the countries involved.
Sharif also appreciated China’s continued economic support to Pakistan, reaffirming his country’s commitment to advancing the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), focusing on agriculture, industrial cooperation and priority infrastructure projects.
The Chinese envoy, for his part, commended Pakistan’s economic resilience and reform efforts while assuring the prime minister of Beijing’s support, particularly in trade and investment.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over ongoing exchanges and said they looked forward to high-level engagements marking 75 years of diplomatic relations, while reaffirming close coordination on issues of mutual interest under their longstanding strategic partnership.
