Islamabad ‘:
Pakistan and China discussed the progress of the current Chinese-Pakistani economic corridor (CPEC) and preparations for the next meeting of the joint committee (JCC) on Sunday, where the main decisions should further strengthen bilateral links.
Development took place as a federal Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal met the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in the Federal capital.
Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry also attended the meeting, which was joined by senior officials from the two countries, according to a statement.
The two parties discussed the progress of CPEC projects and the preparations for the next JCC meeting.
Iqbal said that the first CPEC phase was successfully completed, stressing that the second phase focused on industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technologies and social development.
“CPEC connection to the States of Central Asia will contribute to regional economic stability and economic cooperation,” he noted, reiterating the government’s commitment to improve and ensure the security of CPEC projects.
The Minister said that the development of Gwadar and the creation of special economic zones were the main priorities of the government, adding that Pakistan was fully determined to use the full capacity of the port.
He stressed that the government was determined to fully capitalize on the Deep Duport commercial potential while highlighting the vast potential for mineral exploration in Gwadar and the surrounding area. “With the development of modern infrastructure, its mineral resources can be fully capitalized,” he said.
Iqbal also discussed continuous collaboration with China in the agriculture sector, observing that graduates of agriculture trained in China would play a vital role by helping Pakistan to approach the impacts of climate change.
He said that the creation of Pakistan Space Center was of national importance and that China would play a central role in ensuring the appropriate completion of this strategic project.
Ambassador Zaidong has reaffirmed China’s commitment to support Pakistan’s development efforts. He assured that bilateral cooperation would continue to develop in the years to come.
