Pakistan and China on Sunday reviewed the progress of ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and discussed preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting, expected to focus on further strengthening bilateral relations.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, met with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in Islamabad. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry also attended the meeting, which included senior officials from both countries.
The discussions centered on the progress of CPEC projects and preparations for the upcoming JCC meeting. Iqbal noted that the first phase of CPEC had been successfully completed and highlighted that the second phase would focus on industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technology, and social development.
Iqbal emphasized the importance of connecting CPEC to Central Asian states, stating that this would contribute to regional economic stability. He reiterated the government’s commitment to securing and advancing CPEC projects and underscored the ongoing priority of Gwadar’s development, including the establishment of special economic zones.
The minister also stressed Pakistan’s commitment to fully utilizing Gwadar’s port capacity, which holds vast potential for mineral exploration and trade. He added that modern infrastructure development would facilitate the full exploitation of the port’s resources.
Further, Iqbal highlighted Pakistan’s continued collaboration with China in agriculture, noting that agriculture graduates trained in China would play a significant role in addressing climate change impacts. He also discussed the importance of the Pakistan Space Centre, with China’s involvement critical to ensuring its timely completion.
Ambassador Zaidong reaffirmed China’s support for Pakistan’s development initiatives and assured that bilateral cooperation would continue to expand in the years ahead.
