Islamabad ‘:
Pakistan and China on Sunday discussed the development of the ongoing China -Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and preparations for the upcoming joint collaboration committee (JCC) meeting, where the most important decisions are expected to further strengthen bilateral ties.
The development took place as federal minister of planning, development and special initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal met with the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong in the federal capital.
Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry also attended the meeting, who joined senior officials from both countries, a statement states.
The two pages discussed progress with CPEC projects and preparations for the upcoming JCC meeting.
Iqbal said the first phase of CPEC has been successfully completed, which emphasizes that the second phase focused on industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technology and social development.
“Connecting CPEC to Central Asian states will contribute to regional economic stability and financial cooperation,” he noted, repeating the government’s obligation to improve and secure the security of the CPEC projects.
The Minister claimed that the development of Gwadar and the establishment of special economic zones remained the top government preaches and added that Pakistan was fully obliged to utilize the full capacity of the port.
He emphasized that the government was obliged to fully exploit the Deep Sea’s trade potential while pointing out the enormous potential for mineral exploration in and around Gwadar. “With the development of modern infrastructure, its mineral resources can be fully activated,” he said.
Iqbal also discussed cooperation with China in the agricultural sector, as the candidates who were educated in China would play an important role in helping Pakistan tackle the effects of climate change.
He said that the creation of the Pakistan Space Center was of national importance and that China would play a key role in ensuring the timely implementation of this strategic project.
Ambassador Zaidong confirmed China’s obligation to support Pakistan’s development efforts. He assured that bilateral cooperation would continue to expand in the coming years.
