Pakistan, China agree to outline future of Phase-2 of CPEC

Pakistan, China agree to outline future direction of Phase-2 of CPEC in a meeting between Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong.

To outline the future of Phase-2 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), high-level workshops will be organized by Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives in coordination with China’s National Development and Reform Commission. These workshops aim to bring together experts from both countries to shape the next phase of this initiative.

This announcement was made during a meeting between Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong. Senior officials including the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Tariq Fatemi, and secretaries from various ministries attended the meeting.

Ensured Security of Chinese nationals

Minister Iqbal condemned a recent attack on Chinese nationals in Karachi and stressed that Pakistan will ensure justice for the victims. He emphasized the attack’s intent to harm Pakistan-China relations and assured that the safety and security of Chinese citizens, projects, and institutions in Pakistan remain a top priority. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with China during this challenging period.

The minister highlighted the strong bilateral relationship and acknowledged the significance of the recent visit by the Chinese Premier to Pakistan. He underscored the importance of having effective mechanisms for implementing bilateral projects. Iqbal noted that relevant ministries are preparing plans to implement the agreements reached during recent leadership meetings and to advance CPEC Phase-II through recommendations by Chinese experts.

Key projects discussed

Both parties discussed key projects such as the Karachi-Hyderabad section of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) and the Karakoram Highway (Thakot-Raikot section), committing to their timely completion. Regarding the development of Gwadar Port and Free Zone, both sides expressed dedication to its holistic progress. Ambassador Jiang Zaidong conveyed appreciation for Pakistan’s engagement and emphasized that the recent visit by Pakistan’s Prime Minister to China reinforced ongoing collaboration in politics, international affairs, projects, and security. He affirmed the strong “iron brother” bond shared by the two nations and a commitment to elevating their relationship.

Ambassador Jiang expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Pakistan in areas such as agriculture, mining, and industrial cooperation. Minister Iqbal highlighted the importance of convening joint working group meetings and emphasized regular progress reviews of CPEC projects involving federal and provincial stakeholders. He reiterated plans to conduct high-level workshops with China’s National Development and Reform Commission to outline the goals and direction of CPEC Phase-2, aligning it with the “Five Corridors” of CPEC, the “Eight Points Roadmap of BRI,” and Pakistan’s “5Es Framework.”