Pakistan and China, in a meeting on May 15, reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project by accelerating accelerate the implementation of ML-1 railway line project, the Gwadar Port Development, realignment of Phase-2 of the Karakoram Highway.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar, who is visiting Beijing on a four-day official trip as Pakistan moves into phase two of CPEC, said Islamabad and Beijing needed to finalize the terms for other countries to be part of the multi-billion-dollar CPEC project.
“As we embark on phase two of CPEC we look forward to developing corridors of growth, livelihood, innovation, green development, and inclusivity to carry forward our shared vision of making CPEC an inclusive and transparent project,” Dar said speaking at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.
“We also need to finalize the modalities for third party participation in CPEC.”
Dar hailed China as the cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, underscoring the pivotal role Beijing plays in Islamabad’s diplomatic landscape.
ML-1 Railway project
Dar hoped his visit would speed up the implementation of the Mainline-1 (ML-1) railway project, a significant $6.8 billion initiative to upgrade railway infrastructure. He also discussed plans to realign the Karakoram Highway and stressed the need to boost cooperation in agriculture, mining, energy, information technology, and industry sectors.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi lauded the strong bond between China and Pakistan, labeling it as “ironclad”.
“Both sides should effectively implement the Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation, strengthening our cooperation in areas like industry, agriculture, mining, new energy and information technology,” Wang Yi said, citing a pact signed by the two nations in 2022, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.
Dar, who is also Pakistan’s foreign minister, was speaking at a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing, which the Pakistani official is visiting on a four-day official trip as Pakistan moves into phase two of CPEC, an initiative in which Beijing has pledged to invest $65 billion.
Pakistan to ensure safety and security of Chinese workers
Both ministers highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety and security of Chinese workers and projects in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for continued cooperation in counterterrorism efforts.
“China’s determination to deepen cooperation with Pakistan will not waver,” Anadolu Agency quoted Yi as saying.
“At the same time,” Yi told Deputy PM Dar, “it is hoped that Pakistan will continue to make every effort to … eliminate the worries of Chinese enterprises and personnel.”
The two ministers also discussed measures to enhance connectivity through border crossings and simplify visa regimes, signaling a commitment to facilitating people-to-people exchanges and economic integration.
Discussions also touched upon global economic trends and developments in the Middle East, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the bilateral partnership.