Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar concluded his two-day visit to Shanghai, China, where he represented Pakistan at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister signed the WAICO Agreement on behalf of Pakistan. A total of 29 countries signed the agreement, with Pakistan participating as one of the founding members of the organization. WAICO aims to promote international cooperation in artificial intelligence, strengthen capacity building, and bridge the global digital divide.
The signing ceremony was preceded by a banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in honour of the visiting delegations.
Pakistan Signs WAICO Agreement to Boost Global AI Cooperation
The Deputy Prime Minister also attended the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, which was inaugurated by President Xi Jinping.
Pakistan’s participation as a founding member of WAICO reflects its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and emerging technologies while supporting inclusive technological development for developing countries.
Ishaq Dar Holds Bilateral Meeting with China’s Wang Yi
On the sidelines of the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja; Adviser to the Chief Minister of Punjab on Artificial Intelligence and Special Initiatives Ali Mustafa Dar; Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Bilal Bin Saqib; Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Dr. Syed Asad Ali Gillani; and Pakistan’s Chargé d’Affaires in Beijing, Aizaz Khan.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the broad spectrum of Pakistan-China bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the continued strength and steady growth of their partnership. They reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Focus on CPEC 2.0, AI and Digital Economy
Both sides underscored the importance of advancing high-quality development under CPEC 2.0 and agreed to strengthen practical cooperation across multiple sectors.
The discussions focused on expanding collaboration in trade, investment, science and technology, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, stressing that technological advancement should support sustainable development and the socio-economic progress of developing countries.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed their resolve to maintain close coordination and continue consultations on issues of mutual interest. They reiterated their commitment to enhancing cooperation at multilateral forums.
Meetings With International Delegations
During the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister also held meetings with foreign counterparts and other dignitaries to discuss bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest.
These engagements focused on expanding international cooperation in emerging technologies, innovation, and digital transformation while strengthening Pakistan’s partnerships with countries participating in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference.
Visit Strengthens Pakistan-China AI Partnership
The visit is expected to further strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, science and technology, and other emerging sectors.
It also reinforces the shared commitment of both countries to innovation-driven development, high-quality implementation of CPEC 2.0, and enhanced collaboration through international platforms such as WAICO, supporting broader global cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies.