Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Sunday met with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong to review progress on ongoing China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and discuss preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and senior officials from both countries also participated in the meeting.
During the discussion, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that CPEC’s second phase will prioritize industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technology, and social development. He underscored the importance of leveraging CPEC’s infrastructure to unlock the mineral potential of the Gwadar region.
“The Gwadar region holds vast potential for mineral exploration. With the development of modern infrastructure under CPEC, these resources can be fully capitalized,” he stated. He added that Pakistan remains committed to fully utilizing the port’s trade capacity while ensuring security for all ongoing and future projects.
The minister also highlighted the government’s top priorities, including the development of Gwadar and the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), aimed at boosting economic growth and regional trade connectivity.
Ahsan Iqbal further stressed the strategic importance of connecting CPEC with Central Asian states to enhance regional economic cooperation and stability.
In addition, the minister discussed continued collaboration with China in the agriculture sector. He noted that Pakistani graduates trained in China will play a critical role in addressing climate challenges through advanced agricultural practices.
He also mentioned the establishment of the Pakistan Space Centre as a vital national project, with China expected to play a significant role in its timely completion.
Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s development efforts and expressed confidence that bilateral cooperation would continue to grow across multiple sectors.
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