ISLAMABAD, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong met with Muhammad Sami Saeed, Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, to discuss the ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and the outcomes of the recent Belt and Road (BRI) Forum.

According to the Press Information Department, during the meeting, Minister Saeed lauded the successful conduct of the 3rd BRI Forum 2023 held in China and appreciated President Xi Jinping’s vision outlining eight areas of cooperation. He emphasized the need for Pakistan to operationalize and develop new projects within these areas. The meeting, which also involved the Secretary of the Ministry of Planning and the Project Director of CPEC, focused on the progress of ongoing CPEC projects and their future outlook.

Minister Saeed underlined that President Xi’s vision would significantly impact the implementation of phase-II of CPEC, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to accelerating these projects. He noted that the second phase of CPEC has already commenced as both countries celebrate a decade of collaboration. The Minister highlighted key projects under CPEC, particularly after the BRI forum, including the ML-1 and Karachi Circular Railways (KCR) projects, which are seen as strategic interventions. He also pointed out the potential economic impact of new areas of cooperation like Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Mining.

A significant focus was given to the development of Gwadar, where both sides discussed interventions to enhance the city’s socio-economy, including establishing a high-quality Vocational Training Institution, a Desalination plant, and a state-of-the-art Hospital. The Minister confirmed that all ongoing CPEC projects are progressing well.

Ambassador Jiang Zaidong acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts in successfully implementing CPEC, which has yielded results in Infrastructure, Energy, and other key areas. He also commended the Planning Ministry’s role in not only implementing CPEC but also in contributing to Pakistan’s economic and social development, infrastructure improvement, people’s well-being, and regional connectivity.

The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to continue monitoring CPEC’s progress and to identify new areas of cooperation in line with President Xi’s vision.