Ambassador vows to upgrade CPEC, deepen ties with Pakistan

Ambassador vows to upgrade CPEC, deepen ties with Pakistan speaking at a Chinese language competition in Islamabad.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Pakistan in building an “upgraded version” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Speaking to students after attending a Chinese language competition at the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, Ambassador Jiang described China and Pakistan as All-Weather Strategic Partners and steadfast friends. He emphasized that the China-Pakistan friendship has withstood the test of time and remains strong and stable like Mount Tai.

Ambassador Jiang highlighted the solid political foundation of China-Pakistan relations, noting that President Xi Jinping and Pakistani leaders have guided the bilateral relationship, establishing the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership. This leadership has also advanced CPEC’s development from its “1+4” framework to a new stage focused on building an “upgraded version.” He mentioned the close communication maintained this year between President Xi, President Zardari, and Prime Minister Shehbaz, and reiterated China’s commitment to implementing their consensus and building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Jiang also underscored the robust economic foundation of China-Pakistan relations, emphasizing CPEC’s role as a key project under the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that CPEC has led to $25.4 billion in direct investment, created 236,000 jobs, built 510 km of highways, generated over 8,000 megawatts of electricity, and established 886 km of core transmission networks. He expressed China’s intent to further upgrade CPEC by enhancing cooperation across various sectors to boost Pakistan’s economy and improve its citizens’ livelihoods.

The ambassador highlighted the deep-rooted people-to-people connections between China and Pakistan, noting the contributions of those working on CPEC projects, returnees from Chinese educational institutions, and language learners fostering mutual understanding. He pledged to further promote cultural exchanges, improve public welfare, and strengthen the special friendship between the two countries.

In response to a question, Jiang described China’s progress under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, including its status as the world’s second-largest economy, major achievements in poverty alleviation, and leadership in the Belt and Road Initiative. He emphasized China’s commitment to modernization and its willingness to share opportunities with Pakistan to achieve shared prosperity.

Regarding Pakistan’s development potential, Jiang praised its strategic geographic location, youthful population, and rich natural resources. He commended the new government for achieving economic stabilization and noted recent improvements, such as reduced inflation, growing foreign reserves, and increased exports, expressing optimism about Pakistan’s future.

To another question, Jiang emphasized the strong coordination and cooperation between China and Pakistan to uphold international justice and the interests of developing nations. He reiterated China’s commitment to nurturing talent for both countries through educational collaboration.