ISLAMABAD, Jan 5 : Restarting the stalled multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the two countries have pledged to ensure closer security cooperation to ensure the “secure and smooth” advancement of the Belt and Road initiative, according to a joint statement issued after high-level talks in Beijing.
The commitment between Islamabad and Beijing was made during Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s official visit to China from January 3 to January 5, undertaken at the invitation of Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee.
On January 4, the two leaders co-chaired the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.
According to the joint statement, the dialogue featured a wide-ranging exchange of views on bilateral ties, covering strategic and political coordination, defence and security cooperation, economic relations, trade, investment, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The two sides also discussed regional and international developments of shared concern.
Islamabad and Beijing reiterated their commitment to safeguarding each other’s sovereignty and agreed to enhance bilateral strategic communication, deepen mutual trust, and jointly protect shared interests.
As per both parties, the steps are aimed at promoting economic and social development in both countries while contributing to peace, development and prosperity in the region and beyond.
Reaffirming their “all-weather partnership,” the two governments described themselves as strategic cooperative partners bound by an “ironclad friendship,” stressing that the steady growth of bilateral ties carries strategic significance for regional stability.
Both sides announced that 2026 will feature commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, with the aim of consolidating traditional friendship and expanding cooperation into new areas to ensure continuity of the partnership across generations.
High-level exchanges, they said, will remain a defining feature of the relationship. On economic cooperation, Pakistan and China agreed to better align their development strategies and push forward an upgraded “CPEC 2.0,” with a renewed focus on industry, agriculture and mining.
They committed to accelerating the development and operation of Gwadar Port, ensuring smooth connectivity along the Karakoram Highway, and deepening cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, information technology, cybersecurity, vocational training and cultural exchanges.
The two sides also welcomed third-party participation in CPEC projects in line with agreed frameworks.
The statement highlighted cooperation in the financial and banking sectors, including mutual support at multilateral financial institutions, as another pillar of the partnership.
Beijing signalled plans to bolster Islamabad’s space programme, agreeing to expand space cooperation, including the prospective participation of Pakistani astronauts aboard the China Space Station.
(UNI)
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