Islamabad, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong expressed that the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to China will mark a significant advancement in the China-Pakistan relationship. The visit aims to deepen discussions on bilateral cooperation and address mutual interests, reinforcing the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during an interview with APP, Ambassador Zaidong highlighted the successes of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which has already facilitated $25.4 billion in direct investment to Pakistan. This funding has created 236,000 jobs and developed critical infrastructure including highways, electricity, and core transmission networks. Looking ahead, the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will focus on major projects like the ML-1 railway upgrade, the development of Gwadar Port, and the realignment of the Karakoram Highway Phase II.

Further, the Ambassador noted that China and Pakistan plan to expand their cooperation into new sectors such as industry, agriculture, mining, and information technology, tailored to local needs. This collaboration aims to pave the way for enhanced trade liberalization between the two countries.