Pakistani FM leaves for China on regional issues

ISLAMABAD -- As Pakistan is beefing up efforts to mediate tensions in the Middle East, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the country's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, left for China on Tuesday.

At the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Dar will visit China on Tuesday to hold talks with Wang on current international and regional conflicts and bilateral relations, according to a spokesman of the Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday.

The 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, according to a press release from the Pakistani foreign ministry on Monday.

The two foreign ministers had a phone conversation on the developments regarding the situation in Iran on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during the talks that China is willing to enhance strategic communication and coordination with Pakistan and make joint efforts to promote peace and end the conflict.