Pakistan and China on Monday launched the China-Pakistan Information Corridor (CPIC) at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre to strengthen media cooperation, promote information sharing and highlight the impact of bilateral cooperation on people's lives.
The initiative aims to bring together media organisations, think tanks, academic institutions, businesses and young people from both countries to promote understanding and share information about their longstanding partnership.
Secretary Information Ashfaq Ahmad Khalil, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning attended the launch ceremony, along with other officials and distinguished guests.
Addressing the ceremony, Secretary Information Ashfaq Ahmad Khalil welcomed the participants on behalf of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and said Pakistan and China were celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
He said the relationship had expanded over the decades beyond diplomatic ties to include economic cooperation, technology, education, culture and media. The information corridor would add another dimension to the partnership by promoting information sharing and a common understanding of bilateral relations.
He said roads, ports and industrial zones had brought the economies of the two countries closer, but the partnership also needed to be understood by their people. As cooperation entered a new phase, people in both countries deserved accurate, timely and credible information about its benefits.
He said the CPIC would build on existing agreements between news agencies, broadcasters and film organisations for news exchange, content sharing and joint productions. He thanked the Chinese government, particularly the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, for supporting the initiative.
He said the corridor would operate through four main areas: media cooperation, business and enterprise, think tanks, and culture, tourism and youth.
Under media cooperation, the two countries would share news and content and address misleading information with facts. The business component would highlight companies' achievements and create opportunities for trade and investment. Think tanks would promote research and dialogue on shared issues, while cultural, tourism and youth exchanges would help bring the people of both countries closer.
On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong said the corridor had moved from planning to implementation through the efforts of relevant departments in both countries, particularly those dealing with information and foreign affairs, as well as media organisations and think tanks.
He thanked Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar, officials of the ministries concerned, think tanks and others who had contributed to the initiative.
Recalling his first meeting with Tarar after the minister assumed office on March 21, 2024, Jiang said their discussion covered media cooperation, communication and the proposed information corridor. He also recalled a story shared by Tarar about his family's longstanding friendship with China.
The ambassador said such personal accounts demonstrated the importance of sharing stories that helped people understand one another and brought the two nations closer.
He also referred to the need to ensure that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) delivered practical benefits to the public. He cited the principle expressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping that people's aspirations for a better life should guide the work of the government.
Jiang said the two countries should continue strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly under CPEC, and share accounts of how joint projects had improved people's lives.
He also referred to the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which opened in Beijing on Monday. He said the meeting was considering major issues concerning China's 15th Five-Year Plan and long-term objectives through 2035, amid changes in the international environment.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, addressing the gathering, said it was her first visit to Pakistan and that she had long been aware of the close relationship between the two countries.
She described Pakistan and China as all-weather strategic partners and iron brothers. Recalling China's devastating 2008 earthquake, she said Pakistan had provided tents to help the Chinese people, a gesture she said China would not forget.
Mao said CPEC had helped stabilise Pakistan's energy supply, support industrial development and improve infrastructure, while also contributing to people's well-being.
However, she said not everyone had access to information about the other country or opportunities to visit it. Misinformation, fake news and false claims remained challenges, making the launch of CPIC timely and necessary.
She said stories could influence people's thinking and actions and that Pakistan and China had many examples of cooperation worth sharing.
Mao cited the creation of more than 236,000 jobs in Pakistan through CPEC and highlighted Nida, a 26-year-old woman who became Pakistan's first female metro train driver. She said Nida's experience demonstrated how employment opportunities could help women contribute to social and economic development.
Mao said people from both countries could play a role in sharing such stories to strengthen public understanding and support for bilateral relations.
Referring to the Karakoram Highway, which connects the two countries geographically, she said CPIC could serve as a bridge connecting their people and minds. She expressed confidence that joint efforts would strengthen public support for the strategic partnership and the long-term friendship between Pakistan and China.
During the ceremony, a documentary on Pakistan-China relations was screened, while dance performances were also presented for the audience. The event concluded with the unveiling of the China-Pakistan Information Corridor logo.
