Pakistan and China have agreed to better align their national development plans and move forward with an upgraded phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, referred to as CPEC 2.0, following extensive discussions in Beijing that also addressed political relations, security cooperation, and regional and global matters.
The Seventh Round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministersâ Strategic Dialogue was jointly led on January 4 in Beijing by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Pakistanâs Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Darâs visit to China took place from January 3 to January 5 at the invitation of Wang Yi, according to a joint press communiquĂ© released at the end of the talks on Monday.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed cooperation across a wide range of areas, including strategic and political engagement, defence and security, economic collaboration, trade and investment, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They also shared perspectives on regional and international developments, agreeing to strengthen strategic communication, reinforce mutual trust, protect shared interests, and support economic and social progress in both countries while contributing to regional and global peace and prosperity.
On the economic front, Pakistan and China agreed to advance an enhanced version of CPEC, described as a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative. This next phase will prioritize industrial development, agriculture, and mining, support the construction and operation of Gwadar Port, ensure uninterrupted connectivity along the Karakoram Highway, and boost Pakistanâs long-term sustainable development capacity.
The two countries also committed to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, information technology, science and technology, cybersecurity, technical and vocational education and training, along with cultural and people-to-people exchanges. They noted that keeping the Khunjerab Pass open throughout the year would improve bilateral trade flows and deepen social connections. In addition, both sides welcomed the involvement of third parties in CPEC projects in line with mutually agreed frameworks.
The talks came as Islamabad and Beijing announced plans to hold commemorative events in 2026 to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Reaffirming their status as all-weather strategic cooperative partners, both sides pledged to enhance high-level interactions and fully implement the âAction Plan to Foster an Even Closer Pakistan-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era (2025â2029).â
Furthermore, the two countries reiterated their support for each other on issues related to core national interests and expressed willingness to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism, finance and banking, space collaboration, and engagement within multilateral platforms.
