Islamabad, March 30 Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has planned a visit to China on Tuesday for discussions on bilateral ties and regional developments, following Islamabad's hosting of foreign ministers from four nations for consultations on the West Asia conflict.
Dar, who is also the foreign minister, has been invited on this trip by his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, the Foreign Office said in a statement on Monday.
The statement said that "the upcoming visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to hold in-depth discussions on regional developments, as well as bilateral and global issues of mutual interest."
The visit will take place two days after the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey visited Islamabad for a quadrilateral meeting on the West Asia crisis, during which the leaders discussed ways to bring an "early and permanent end to the war" in the region.
Following a detailed discussion, Dar indicated that a meeting between US and Iranian officials was possible.
In its statement, the FO said that Pakistan and China enjoy a strategic cooperative partnership, characterized by close coordination and regular consultations on regional and international issues.
It added that the visit to China, despite medical advice to rest after Dar's hairline fracture, is evidence of the importance placed by Pakistan on its relationship with China.
Dar sustained a hairline fracture in his shoulder after slipping and falling during the quadrilateral summit meeting on Sunday.