Beijing: Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal held talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong in Beijing on Saturday, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation under the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The meeting focused on Phase II of CPEC, which aims to accelerate industrial growth and foster direct business-to-business partnerships.
Minister Iqbal conveyed a goodwill message from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and thanked China for its continued support, particularly during times of regional uncertainty.
“The people of Pakistan hold the friendship with China in the highest regard,” Iqbal said, adding that Beijing’s development journey offers valuable lessons for Pakistan’s own shift towards a more export-driven and technology-based economy.
He also outlined Pakistan’s URAAN initiative, which is based on the Five Es framework, aligning with the goals of CPEC Phase II to deliver sustainable economic growth and social development through people-focused reforms.
Emphasizing the way forward, Iqbal said the creation of a skilled, tech-savvy workforce and stronger ties between private sectors in both countries would be critical in driving the next stage of CPEC.
Vice Minister Weidong, in turn, reaffirmed China’s firm support for expanding cooperation in key sectors and acknowledged Iqbal’s long-standing role in translating CPEC from a vision into a transformative multibillion-dollar initiative.
