Islamabad: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Tuesday called for deepening China-Pakistan cooperation in the minerals sector through a full-value chain approach, stressing sustainable development, environmental protection, and inclusive growth.
Speaking at the China-Pakistan Mineral Cooperation Forum, Ambassador Jiang said the forum was the first mineral-focused bilateral platform held by the two countries in recent years and aimed to elevate cooperation beyond exploration and mining to cover the entire mineral value chain. This includes exploration, machinery and equipment, smelting and processing, as well as integration with trade, investment, logistics, finance, research, and training.
He emphasized that future cooperation should focus on development-oriented outcomes by helping Pakistan build upstream and downstream industrial chains, train skilled mining professionals, establish demonstration projects, and ensure that mineral development advances alongside local economic and social progress.
Highlighting Pakistan’s vast mineral potential, Ambassador Jiang noted that the country extracts over 100 million tons of ore annually, with most production coming from small and medium-scale projects that face financial, technological, and human resource constraints. He said Chinese enterprises are willing to increase investment and technological support to help Pakistan transform its resource advantages into sustainable economic gains, while ensuring mutual benefit and commercial viability.
The ambassador underscored China’s commitment to green mining, urging enterprises to adopt environmentally responsible practices and ensure ecological protection throughout the mining lifecycle. Citing the Duddar project as a successful example, he stressed the importance of environmental impact assessments, ecological restoration, and scientific mining methods.
Ambassador Jiang also highlighted the need to ensure that local communities benefit directly from mining projects. He pointed to initiatives under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including the Saindak Project, which has trained thousands of Pakistani professionals and supported local suppliers. He said Chinese companies would be encouraged to allocate part of their revenues to local livelihood projects, balancing infrastructure development with improvements in health, education, and skills training.
Referring to China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan and Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” initiative, Ambassador Jiang said both sides should align their national development strategies and bilateral action plans to further strengthen cooperation. He expressed confidence that China-Pakistan relations would reach new heights as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Concluding his address, Ambassador Jiang reaffirmed China’s commitment to long-term, people-centric mineral cooperation and expressed optimism that enhanced collaboration would deliver shared prosperity and reinforce the enduring China-Pakistan friendship.
