Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong met in Islamabad on Saturday to reaffirm their commitment to expanding industrial collaboration and business-to-business (B2B) engagement under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
During the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal emphasised that Pakistan is now focusing on building an export-oriented, technology-driven economy, drawing lessons from China’s successful development model. He highlighted the alignment between Pakistan’s “Five Es” framework, part of the broader URAAN Pakistan initiative, and the objectives of CPEC’s next phase, particularly in areas of industrial growth and technology transfer.
Mr. Iqbal noted that CPEC, once a concept on paper, was turned into a multibillion-dollar reality during Mr. Sun’s earlier diplomatic tenure in Islamabad. He reiterated the importance of developing a skilled and educated workforce to drive economic growth and strengthen B2B ties as Pakistan moves into this new phase of economic cooperation.
Expressing gratitude for China’s continued support, especially during recent regional challenges, Iqbal said that the people of Pakistan take pride in the “everlasting friendship” with China’s leadership and citizens.
Vice Foreign Minister Sun welcomed Pakistan’s Five Es vision, calling it a forward-looking strategy for economic stability and self-reliance. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors, underscoring the shared goal of sustainable development under CPEC Phase II.
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