CHINESE Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Sunday and discussed bilateral cooperation, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), trade and investment, and regional developments. Ishaq Dar appreciated the continued progress in the Pakistan-China “all-weather strategic cooperative partnership” and stressed the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to further advance the China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era. The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments and reaffirmed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for sustainable peace and stability.
Both countries are now focused on the second phase of CPEC. Unlike the first phase, which focused largely on energy and infrastructure, the second phase envisages wider cooperation in productive sectors, including industrialization, agriculture, mining, information technology and artificial intelligence. It also seeks to expand trade, investment, science and technology and people-to-people exchanges. The success of CPEC 2.0 is particularly important for Pakistan. The country needs greater industrialization to create jobs and expand its export base, while agriculture requires modern technology, better productivity and stronger value chains. Pakistan’s mineral wealth also offers considerable potential for investment and economic growth, provided resources are developed responsibly and greater value is added domestically. Similarly, the information technology sector can become a major source of exports and employment if supported by investment, skills development and access to modern technology.
Leaders on both sides have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to the second phase of CPEC. The priority now should be to translate that commitment into concrete projects and measurable outcomes. Engagement at political, diplomatic, institutional and commercial levels must continue so that decisions are followed by implementation. CPEC 2.0 offers Pakistan an opportunity to move from infrastructure-led cooperation towards broader economic transformation. There is little doubt that successful implementation of the second phase will bring the two countries even closer and open new avenues of cooperation. What is needed now is sustained and effective coordination and timely implementation to take this bilateral relationship to a new level.
