Ahsan Iqbal, Chinese envoy discuss CPEC, Gwadar and regional ties to reiterate commitment to collective growth and development in the region.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, hosted a luncheon on Thursday at his residence in honor of Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.
The Chinese delegation included Minister Counselors Yang Guanguan and Xu Hangtian, along with officials Yang Dapeng and Wang Jingjiu.
Ambassador Jiang appreciated the restoration of peace and stability in the region and praised Pakistan’s role during the recent conflict, expressing optimism about its positive impact. Ahsan Iqbal thanked China for standing by Pakistan during challenging times.
Discussions primarily focused on advancing projects under CPEC. The minister shared that Gwadar Port has now been connected to the national power grid—an important milestone for its activation.
“Connecting Gwadar to the grid is pivotal in transforming it into a regional trade hub. CPEC will serve as a catalyst for Pakistan’s economic development and regional integration,” said Ahsan Iqbal.
Ambassador Jiang reiterated China’s commitment to Gwadar’s growth and commended Ahsan Iqbal’s leadership in strengthening CPEC initiatives. They also reviewed preparations for the upcoming 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting in July 2025.
China also conveyed strong support for Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” vision. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized leveraging Gwadar’s connectivity to Central Asia and Afghanistan to enhance regional trade links.
In the realm of agriculture, Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that Chinese-funded agricultural graduates are undergoing training in Pakistan, and Chinese agricultural machinery has been distributed to provinces to aid farmers and research centers.
The minister highlighted the urgency of launching key infrastructure projects like Phase II of the Karakoram Highway and the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway. He also proposed academic collaboration between Chinese universities and Pakistan’s Daanish University and Jinnah Medical Complex.
Ahsan Iqbal suggested reviving talks on establishing a Naptha Cracker Complex in Pakistan, a vital industrial project. Ambassador Jiang responded positively and offered to coordinate with relevant Chinese institutions.
The Chinese side expressed readiness to support small dam construction in Balochistan under the Livelihoods Corridor of CPEC. Ahsan Iqbal assured complete facilitation from the government for these efforts.
“CPEC symbolizes our joint journey. It enables infrastructure development, empowers communities, and shapes a connected and prosperous future,” said Ahsan Iqbal.
Also present were Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, PIDE Vice Chancellor Dr. Nadeem Javaid, CPEC Secretariat’s Dr. Muzammil Zia, and Project Director Javed Sikandar.
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