China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has conveyed Beijing’s appreciation for Pakistan’s “active diplomatic role” and efforts towards ending the Middle East conflict, the Foreign Office (FO) said on Wednesday.

Wang made the remarks during his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Beijing on Tuesday, where the two sides had issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace in the Middle East.

Referring to their discussions, the FO said in a statement, “The meeting was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality. Both dignitaries exchanged notes on the regional developments in West Asia as well as bilateral relations.”

Dar briefed Wang in detail on Pakistan’s continued efforts towards the cessation of the Middle East conflict and resumption of dialogue, including its recent quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt.

According to the FO, both sides “reviewed the regional security environment and expressed deep concern over its serious socio-economic repercussions on developing countries”.

In this context, it added, both sides had launched a five-point initiative to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East. In this initiative, Islamabad and Beijing had called for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the start of peace talks as soon as possible.

“Both ministers reviewed with satisfaction the growing momentum in bilateral relations, while underscoring pursuit of high-quality development and strategic cooperation under CPEC 2.0, and enhancing high-level exchanges and communication amidst a year marking the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations,” the FO said.

Dar expressed his gratitude to the Chinese foreign minister for the “warm welcome and exceptional hospitality extended to him and his delegation”. The two ministers also exchanged views on Afghanistan and the importance of “peace, stability and the critical importance of countering terrorism effectively”.

“Both sides undertook to remain in regular contact,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Dar also expressed his “heartfelt thanks to my dear friend” Wang for the “warm hospitality and excellent arrangements” during the visit.

“Well done TeamPakistan at our Embassy in Beijing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, for their professionalism and support in ensuring the successful conduct of this visit,” he wrote in a post on X.

Later in the afternoon, the FO stated that Dar and his delegation had returned to Islamabad.

Islamabad on Sunday signalled that it could host direct talks between the United States and Iran in the coming days, after the quadrilateral meeting between Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan’s efforts to mediate between the two sides have drawn broad international support, most notably from China, which has endorsed Islamabad’s role and encouraged Iran to engage in dialogue.

In a call with Dar last week, Wang said that initiating peace talks in the war on Iran “is no easy task” but would be “conducive to restoring normal navigation through the Strait of Hormuz”.