Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir are in Beijing on Monday (May 25) for talks with Chinese leaders, as Islamabad continues its mediation push to formally end the Iran war.
Sharif began his four-day official visit to China on Saturday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Munir was in Tehran on Friday and Saturday alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for direct mediation efforts before both travelled to Beijing.
Xi calls Pakistan ties ‘unbreakable’
President Xi Jinping hailed the “unbreakable” friendship between China and Pakistan during their Beijing meeting, reaffirming the two countries’ “all-weather” strategic partnership, according to Reuters. China said it is willing to work with Pakistan to make positive contributions to the early return of peace and stability in the Middle East.
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Addressing Chinese leaders, Sharif said the world is passing through a critical moment. “Pakistan has played a sincere role in mediating between the US and Iran. Field Marshal was in Tehran and did not want to miss this great visit. Things are moving in the right direction. I would like to thank China’s support in promoting peace,” Pakistan’s state channel PTV showed him saying.
Pakistan’s mediation role — and its limits
Pakistan hosted the only direct face-to-face talks between American and Iranian officials since the conflict began, in April. Munir played a visible role during those negotiations, welcoming both delegations and holding a cordial interaction with US Vice President JD Vance. The talks later collapsed after Iran accused Washington of placing excessive demands during the discussions.
China has largely stayed out of the foreground, facilitating phone conversations and meetings with Gulf nation officials affected by the conflict, while Pakistan has taken the more public-facing mediating role.
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