ISLAMABAD, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, met with Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Muhammad Sami Saeed, to discuss the ongoing progress and future outlook of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to the Press Information Department, during the meeting in Islamabad, Minister Saeed commended China’s leadership for successfully hosting the 3rd Belt and Road (BRI) Forum 2023. He appreciated President Xi Jinping’s vision, which highlighted eight areas of cooperation, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to operationalize and advance this vision by identifying new projects and areas of collaboration.

The meeting, which also included the Secretary Ministry of Planning and the Project Director of CPEC, saw discussions on the progress of ongoing CPEC projects and the reinforcement of bilateral relations. The Minister underscored the significance of the second phase of CPEC, which marks a decade of the initiative. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of these projects.

Key developmental projects under CPEC, particularly the ML-1 and Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) projects, were highlighted as strategic interventions. The Minister also pointed out the potential of expanding cooperation into new areas such as Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Mining, emphasizing their potential economic impact.

Gwadar’s development was another focal point, with both sides discussing interventions to transform the city’s socio-economy through projects like a high-quality Vocational Training Institution, a Desalination plant, and a state-of-the-art Hospital. Minister Saeed reassured that all ongoing projects, reviewed thoroughly following the BRI Forum, were progressing well.

Ambassador Jiang Zaidong praised Pakistan’s efforts in implementing CPEC, noting its fruitful outcomes in Infrastructure, Energy, and other major areas. He acknowledged the Planning Ministry’s significant role in not only CPEC’s implementation but also in promoting Pakistan’s economic and social development, improving infrastructure, enhancing the well-being of the Pakistani people, fostering people-to-people contact, and deepening regional connectivity.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to follow up on the progress of CPEC and to identify new areas of cooperation aligned with President Xi’s Vision.