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BEIJING: Pakistan and China have reached a new broad consensus on further deepening bilateral ties, strengthening strategic coordination and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, according to a joint statement issued on Tuesday. Both countries have agreed to promote “high-quality development” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 2.0 and welcome the participation of third parties in its development, read the statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO). The joint statement comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded his four-day visit to China, which was undertaken at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz met Chinese President…

The annual Hajj pilgrimage is continuing in Makkah as millions of Muslims from around the world prepare to perform Wuquf-e-Arafah, the most important pillar of Hajj, today (Tuesday). In the first phase of the pilgrimage, pilgrims travelled in large groups from Makkah to Mina, where they offered Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers. The pilgrims spent the night in worship, reciting the Holy Quran, offering prayers and engaging in remembrance of Allah, while the atmosphere echoed with chants of “’Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik.’ On the 9th of Zul-Hijjah, pilgrims will gather at Plain of Arafat to perform Wuquf-e-Arafah and listen to…

WASHINGTON: US forces attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats trying to lay mines on Monday, US Central Command said, imperilling a fragile ceasefire and casting new doubt on a deal to end the Middle East war. The strikes came as top Iranian negotiators arrived in Doha for the latest round of talks to end the months-long conflict, and as the Israeli military stepped up hostilities with Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Oil prices fluctuated in the wake of the US strikes, which may threaten any agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where an Iranian blockade has choked…

US President Donald Trump on Monday urged Muslim-majority nations across the Middle East and beyond to normalise relations with Israel as part of the emerging Iran peace deal. In a lengthy social media post, Trump listed countries whose leaders he spoke with on Saturday about efforts to end the war with Iran. “After all the work done by the United States to try and pull this very complex puzzle together, it should be mandatory that all of these countries, at a minimum, simultaneously sign onto the Abraham Accords.” “Those Countries discussed are Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates (already a…

NEW DELHI: At the beginning of ​the Quad meeting on Tuesday, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. need ‌to address “connectivity choke points” and resource concentration. “We have to address issues like supply chain resilience, connectivity choke points, manufacturing and resource concentration and gaps in critical infrastructure,” he said. The meeting between the countries’ top diplomats – Australia’s Penny Wong, India’s Jaishankar, Japan’s Toshimitsu Motegi and US Secretary of State Marco ​Rubio – is the third such gathering since September 2024. The meeting is expected to last less than an hour ​and will be…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a series of high-level meetings with leading Chinese enterprises, wherein he reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening economic, industrial, and infrastructure cooperation under the framework of CPEC Phase II. The prime minister, who is on a four-day official visit to China, met with the delegation of FAMSUN led by CEO Zhengjun Chen and appreciated the company’s longstanding contribution to Pakistan’s agriculture sector, particularly in grain storage, feed production, and food security. He emphasized Pakistan’s focus on reducing post-harvest losses and invited FAMSUN to establish manufacturing and technology transfer facilities in Pakistan under the incentives…

No matter how the international and regional situation changes, the friendship between China and Pakistan has always been as solid as a rock and unbreakable, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces and Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir. Wang welcomed Munir and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China together, noting that the two countries have maintained a high level of political mutual trust, practical cooperation and international coordination,…

China’s Ministry of Science and Technology issued ethical guidelines for human genetic data research on Monday, aiming to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of research participants and related groups, and promote the healthy development of human genetic data research. According to these guidelines, human genetic data refers to various types of data obtained from human biological samples such as cells, tissues, organs, bodily fluids and secretions that can directly reflect human genetic information. With the rapid advancement of gene sequencing and omics technologies, as well as genetic data analysis methods, research related to human genetic data has provided…

China and Pakistan should stand steadfastly together amid an increasingly complicated external environment, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said . Han made the remarks during a reception in Beijing celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, which was also attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The reception was attended by approximately 400 people from various sectors of both countries. Han stated that as close neighbors with a shared future and profound friendship, China and Pakistan have upheld mutual respect, trust, support and assistance over the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic…

China stands ready to further advance the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and push forward major connectivity projects between the two countries, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday when holding talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing. Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties, Li said that amid fluid and turbulent international situation, China and Pakistan have maintained close communication and coordination to safeguard common interests and inject positive momentum into regional peace. Li said China always prioritizes relations and cooperation with Pakistan in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing…