Wed May 21 06:29:32 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Following a brief but intense conflict with India that ended with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025, Pakistan has announced a deepening of trade and investment ties with China. The move comes as China expressed support for dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their differences. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, where China pledged to support Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The two countries also agreed to increase cooperation in various sectors including trade, investment, and agriculture. In a separate meeting in Beijing, Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan decided to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, further strengthening their cooperation within China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

**News Article:**

**Pakistan Strengthens Ties with China After Ceasefire with India**

**Islamabad, May 21, 2025** – Pakistan has announced plans to deepen its economic and strategic partnership with China following a recent escalation of tensions and subsequent ceasefire with India. The announcement came after a meeting between Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on Tuesday.

The renewed cooperation comes on the heels of a ceasefire agreement reached on May 10th, ending four days of intense fighting between India and Pakistan, the most serious conflict between the two nations in nearly three decades. Tensions had flared after an attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd resulted in 26 deaths.

China has expressed its support for peaceful resolution of the Indo-Pakistani conflict through dialogue. “China welcomes and supports efforts by Pakistan and India to handle their differences through dialogue and to achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire,” Wang Yi stated.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi assured Dar of China’s commitment to “support Pakistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” In addition to security assurances, both countries have agreed to expand cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, and industrialization.

Further solidifying regional ties, Dar and Wang also convened a trilateral meeting with Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Amir Khan Muttaqi. The three nations agreed to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into Afghanistan, a move aimed at bolstering infrastructure development and regional connectivity within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The next trilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Kabul. This deepening of ties marks a significant shift in regional dynamics following the recent Indo-Pakistani conflict and underscores China’s growing influence in the region.

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