CPEC entering next phase, says FM

He observes that the two countries have always strongly supported each other on core interests, major issues

BEIJING:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Ishaq Dar has said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is entering a new phase of high-quality development, with Islamabad and Beijing now prioritising the creation of a "corridor of people's well-being".

In a recent interview with People's Daily Online, Dar noted that 2026 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

The DPM/FM said over the past 75 years, Pakistan and China have firmly upheld a tradition of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, and that despite changing global circumstances, the "iron-clad friendship" between the two countries has continued to deepen.

He observed that the two countries have always strongly supported each other on core interests and major issues, while steadily implementing the important consensus reached by the leadership of both sides through close cooperation in areas including the economy and industrial development.

He added that in the new era, efforts are being accelerated to build a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

According to Dar, the CPEC is entering a new phase of high-quality development, and both sides are placing special emphasis on building a "corridor of people's well-being."

He said that agriculture is one of the cornerstone industries of Pakistan's economy, and in recent years companies from both countries have achieved positive results through cooperation in crops such as chili peppers, rapeseed (mustard/canola), and sesame. Meanwhile, many Pakistani agricultural products have gained access to the Chinese market.

He noted that these developments are significant for enabling Pakistani farmers to integrate into regional value chains and increase their incomes.

He further explained that in 2025, Pakistan launched a training programme for 1,000 agricultural experts in China, under which two batches were sent to China to understand its experience in agricultural innovation and systematically learn modern agricultural skills.

Dar said that in the next phase, both countries hope to further deepen cooperation across the entire agricultural value chain under the CPEC framework, which will help transform and upgrade Pakistan's agriculture sector.

Ishaq Dar said that close cooperation between Pakistan and China in industry and technology is delivering direct benefits to the Pakistani people.

He noted that Chinese solar photovoltaic equipment, electric vehicles, and electric motorcycles have entered the Pakistani market, making daily life and work more convenient for the public.

He added that Chinese companies have also established manufacturing units in Pakistan, creating opportunities for industrial upgrading. According to him, in areas where infrastructure is weak and energy costs are high, China's new energy technologies are generating new hope for public welfare.