Pakistan, China urge US-Iran ceasefire as Dar joins global AI cooperation body

WEB DESK: Pakistan and China on Thursday called for a ceasefire and the resumption of dialogue between the United States and Iran during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Shanghai.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Yi urged all parties to honour their commitments under the ceasefire memorandum of understanding and continue efforts to maintain regional stability through dialogue.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of events marking the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), where Pakistan signed the founding agreement and officially became a founding member of the newly established international body.

Signing the agreement on behalf of Pakistan, Senator Dar said the country’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence while ensuring the interests of developing nations are represented.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan would use the new platform to advocate for bridging the global artificial intelligence divide, promoting equitable access to emerging technologies, strengthening capacity-building, and ensuring AI contributes to sustainable development and shared prosperity.

Pakistan to promote equitable AI access

According to the Foreign Office, Pakistan intends to work closely with other WAICO member states to reduce technological disparities between developed and developing countries. r

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The ministry said Islamabad would continue promoting policies that expand access to AI technologies, encourage responsible innovation, and ensure technological advancement benefits countries across the Global South.

During his engagements in Shanghai, Senator Dar stressed the importance of capacity-building and international cooperation so that advances in artificial intelligence contribute to inclusive global development rather than widening existing technological gaps.

The deputy prime minister also praised Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote address at the opening ceremony, noting that the Chinese leader described artificial intelligence as a product of humanity’s collective wisdom that carries both immense opportunities and shared responsibilities.

Pakistan, China reaffirm CPEC 2.0 cooperation

During their bilateral meeting, Dar and Wang Yi reaffirmed their commitment to the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and reviewed progress on high-quality development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0.

The two sides discussed key strategic projects, including the Siah Diq mining project, the Karakoram Highway Realignment Project, and other bilateral initiatives agreed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China in May 2025.

Senator Dar visited Shanghai from July 16 to 17 at the invitation of the Chinese foreign minister. Besides signing the WAICO founding agreement, he attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.

The Pakistani delegation included IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser on Artificial Intelligence Ali Mustafa Dar, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib, and Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Dr Syed Asad Ali Gillani.

Following the completion of his engagements, Senator Dar departed Shanghai for Islamabad to attend upcoming diplomatic commitments.