ISLAMABAD – China reaffirmed its commitment to deepening strategic partnership with Pakistan, with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong pledging closer cooperation on governance, economic development, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Celebrating 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), he called China and Pakistan as “iron-clad brothers” and said the bilateral relationship continues to serve as a model of all-weather strategic cooperation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, cabinet members, diplomats, political leaders, and members of the Chinese community in Pakistan also attended the event.
The ambassador praised CPC’s 105-year journey, saying the party has transformed China from a poor, semi-colonial nation into the world’s second-largest economy through sustained economic reforms, poverty alleviation, and modernization. He highlighted China’s economic rise, noting that the country’s GDP has grown from 67.9 billion yuan in 1952 to 140.2 trillion yuan in 2025, while nearly 100 million rural residents have been lifted out of poverty and nationwide education, healthcare, and social security systems have expanded significantly.
Quoting President Xi Jinping’s address delivered earlier in Beijing to mark the CPC anniversary, Jiang said China remains committed to building a modern socialist country and pursuing the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” He added that all CPC members are implementing the vision laid out by Xi Jinping for the country’s future development.
The envoy stressed Beijing’s role in global affairs, saying China remains committed to peace, development, and multilateral cooperation through initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative.
Highlighting the global impact of the Belt and Road Initiative, Jiang said it has expanded to more than 150 countries, generating nearly $1 trillion in investment, over 3,000 cooperation projects, and more than 400,000 jobs worldwide. Citing World Bank estimates, he said full implementation of the initiative could lift millions of people out of poverty.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the ambassador described CPEC as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. He said the corridor has attracted more than $25.9 billion in direct Chinese investment, created over 260,000 jobs, added more than 8,000 megawatts of electricity generation capacity, constructed 510 kilometers of expressways, and developed 886 kilometers of national transmission infrastructure, providing a significant boost to Pakistan’s economy.
The envoy also sheds light on Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, calling it a guiding framework for governance and national development. He said China is willing to deepen exchanges with Pakistani political parties on governance, leadership, and development while strengthening the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Congratulating Pakistan on its recent economic performance, Jiang said the country’s economy has shown signs of stabilization, citing official figures that placed GDP growth at 3.7 percent in fiscal year 2025-26 and total economic output at a record $452 billion. He also pointed to improvements in the services and manufacturing sectors and rising per capita income as indicators of economic recovery.
The ambassador further commended Pakistan’s diplomatic role in promoting regional stability, saying Islamabad had played a constructive part in facilitating a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, describing the effort as an important contribution to reducing regional tensions.
Looking ahead, Jiang said 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan offers an opportunity to further strengthen bilateral ties. He said Beijing is prepared to work closely with Islamabad to implement the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, align China’s 15th Five-Year Plan with Pakistan’s Uraan Pakistan initiative, accelerate work on an upgraded CPEC 2.0, and expand cooperation under the two countries’ shared development agenda.
Ambassador Jiang expressed confidence in the continued growth of China-Pakistan relations, wishing lasting prosperity, peace, and stability for both countries while reaffirming Beijing’s commitment to an enduring partnership spanning generations.
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