Dar and Chinese ambassador discuss CPEC, trade and regional stability

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, in Islamabad on Sunday. The two discussed bilateral cooperation, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade and investment, and regional developments, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry said Mr Dar appreciated the continued progress in the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. It said this covers cooperation under CPEC, connectivity, trade and investment, agricultural modernisation and people-to-people exchanges.

According to the statement, Mr Dar underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to further advance the Pakistan-China Community of Shared Future in the New Era. 24 News, citing the Foreign Office, also reported that he stressed the need for regular high-level meetings to strengthen bilateral relations.

The meeting also gave the two sides a chance to exchange views on regional developments, the ministry said. It added that they reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for sustainable peace and stability in the region.

The Express Tribune noted that Pakistan and China marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, with both sides seeking to expand cooperation beyond traditional infrastructure projects. The next phase of CPEC, known as CPEC 2.0, is expected to focus on industrialisation, agriculture, mining, information technology and artificial intelligence.

The paper also recalled that at the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Beijing in January, the two countries agreed to align their development priorities. They also agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, cybersecurity and people-to-people exchanges.