Pakistani PM briefs Iranian president on his Mideast tour via phone

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday had a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, briefing the president on his latest tour in the Middle East, according to the Prime Minister's Office.

During the 45-minute phone call, Sharif apprised the Iranian leader of his recent engagements with regional leaders, including those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Türkiye, stressing that such interactions were crucial for building consensus and bringing lasting peace to the war-ravaged region, the office said on social media.

Pezeshkian appreciated Pakistan's commitment to peace efforts, noting that relations between Iran and Pakistan would continue to grow stronger in the days ahead.

Sharif thanked Iranian officials for their constructive discussions with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshall Syed Asim Munir during his recent visit to Tehran.

The prime minister embarked on a Middle East tour on Wednesday after Pakistan hosted the first round of Iran-U.S. negotiations last weekend. He reiterated to the Iranian leader that Pakistan remained fully committed to its efforts to advance regional peace and security.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 42 pips to 6.7628 against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.