CPEC 2.0 in focus as Prime Minister Shehbaz visits China

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Saturday for what the Chinese Foreign Ministry described as an “important high-level exchange” between the two countries as they mark 75 years of diplomatic relations.

“China hopes that both sides will take the visit as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen cooperation across the board and write a new chapter in building an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

The visit – from May 23 to 26 – is expected to highlight a new chapter in the 75-year-old China-Pakistan relationship, which has long been recognized for mutual trust and enduring cooperation despite changing international circumstances, according to a commentary published on China’s CGTN website.

At a ceremony held in Islamabad on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the “steadfast” friendship between Pakistan and China, saying China had consistently stood by Pakistan in both prosperity and adversity. “Earthquakes, floods, peace and difficult times – China has always supported Pakistan unwaveringly,” he said.

Over the past 75 years, Pakistan and China have maintained steadily growing ties. In 2015, the two countries elevated their relationship to an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and later agreed to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.

Qian Feng, director of the research department of the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said the visit reflected Pakistan’s determination to attract more Chinese private enterprises and inject fresh dynamism into bilateral economic cooperation.

Read more: Prime Minister Shehbaz arrives in Hangzhou on a four-day official visit to China

Economic cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), launched in 2013, remains the cornerstone of bilateral ties. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in a recent article described CPEC as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative and said it had attracted more than $25.9 billion in direct investment and created over 260,000 jobs in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Wang Hao, Party Secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee in Hangzhou on Saturday and discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation. PHOTO: APP

According to Chinese officials, CPEC projects have added over 8,000 MW to Pakistan’s power capacity, developed 510 km of roads and 886 km of transmission lines, while Gwadar Port has been expanded into a major regional hub capable of handling large cargo ships. The Suki Kinari hydroelectric project in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa also generates 884MW of clean energy, reducing dependence on coal and reducing carbon emissions.

Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said CPEC had significantly strengthened Pakistan’s energy security, infrastructure and regional connectivity, while laying the foundation for a modern economic framework.

During the seventh round of China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue in January, both countries agreed to further align development priorities and accelerate work on an upgraded version of the corridor, commonly referred to as CPEC 2.0.

Read also: Pak-China friendship ‘time-tested and unbreakable’, says PM Shehbaz on 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties

“CPEC is now entering its second phase and marks a strategic shift from infrastructure development to industrialization, innovation and inclusive growth,” Iqbal said, adding that both sides hoped to transform the project into a corridor of “hope, innovation, opportunity and prosperity.”

Pakistan-China and Afghanistan affairs expert Rashid Safi described Prime Minister Shehbaz’s visit as strategically important for regional stability, economic cooperation and strengthening of bilateral relations.

He said the visit came at a critical time as both countries celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations amid changing geopolitical dynamics, economic challenges and regional security concerns. “In this context, the visit is seen as a major effort to give a new direction to the future partnership between the two brotherly countries,” he said. APP.

According to Safi, the visit goes beyond formal diplomacy and aims to achieve progress in economic cooperation, investment, technology, media, information technology, industrial cooperation, agriculture and regional connectivity.

He said the prime minister’s first stop in Hangzhou was particularly significant because the city is considered one of China’s leading centers for advanced technology, e-commerce, artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Safi added that the prime minister’s expected visit to Alibaba Group headquarters would have special significance as Pakistan seeks to accelerate digitization, e-commerce expansion and IT exports. He added that under CPEC 2.0, both countries now laid special emphasis on industrial zones, exports, youth employment, agrarian reforms, technology transfer and regional trade links.

“Pakistan seeks to accelerate economic growth through the relocation of Chinese industry, manufacturing and investment, while China sees Pakistan as an important trade, logistics and economic hub in the region,” he said.

Regional and global developments are also expected to feature prominently during the visit, particularly tensions involving the US and Iran, the situation in the Middle East, developments in the Arabian Sea, energy supply routes, Afghanistan and wider regional stability.

Safi said both Pakistan and China favored dialogue, diplomacy and economic cooperation rather than conflict, arguing that connectivity and confidence-building remained essential to regional prosperity. He also praised China’s governance and public security systems, saying many Chinese cities had become examples of discipline, security and public trust.

“In various Chinese cities, both local residents and foreign tourists enjoy an extremely safe environment,” he said, adding that late-night public activity and the safe movement of women, families and foreigners reflect the success of China’s government model.

According to Safi, the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and China extends beyond diplomacy, with both countries consistently supporting each other in difficult times.

“That is why Pakistan-China ties are globally recognized as an all-weather strategic cooperative partnership,” he said, adding that the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations reflected both nations’ commitment to common development, regional stability, economic cooperation and a more connected Asia.

(With additional input from agencies)