Page 6 - Second Summit News Today

Decision becomes complicated as US invites Taiwan, but not China and Turkey

Pakistan, the closest ally of China, has decided to skip the Democracy Summit that begins in Washington on Tuesday, opting instead to engage with the US bilaterally to strengthen democratic values, the Foreign Office here said.

Pakistan, the closest ally of China, has decided to skip the Democracy Summit that begins in Washington on Tuesday, opting instead to engage with the US bilaterally to strengthen democratic values, the foreign office in Islamabad said.

China and Turkiye have not been invited to the virtual summit. Pakistan's participation in the summit has been a subject of intense debate for some time now

Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says we value our friendship with the US. She said under the Biden Administration, this relationship has widened and expanded substantially.

Relationship between Pakistan, US has widened and expanded substantially under Biden administration, says FO

China, Turkiye not invited; Pakistan says it will engage with the US on a bilateral basis to encourage democratic values.

Islamabad chose to skip the event so that it does not potentially upset its "all-weather ally" China, officials said.

Pakistan would engage bilaterally with US, co-hosts to promote democratic principles, says FO

The issue of Pakistan's participation in the Second Summit for Democracy in the US had been under discussion for some time, particularly because it could potentially upset its "all-weather friend" China.