China, Pakistan agree to upgrade CPEC, advance development in second phase

Beijing – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a productive meeting on Friday, reaffirming their commitment to the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the timely completion of key ongoing projects.

The two leaders also agreed to upgrade the CPEC and move forward with the megaproject’s second phase development.

The prime minister briefed President Xi on Pakistan’s policies for economic reform and long-term growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity, as well as the critical role of CPEC in Pakistan’s development.

He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to high-quality CPEC development and the need for close coordination between the two countries’ development strategies.

The meeting between the two leaders took place in the historic Great Hall of the People. The two leaders were joined by federal ministers and senior officials.

It was PM Shehbaz’s first meeting with the President of China since taking office in 2024. The meeting was marked by traditional warmth, which reflected the two countries’ strong friendship and strategic ties.

The prime minister thanked President Xi Jinping for the warm welcome he and his delegation received in China.

Also Read: Pakistan and China sign 23 agreements for cooperation in industry and key sectors.

He recalled President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan in 2015, when the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was formally operationalised, ushering in a new chapter in the bilateral relationship.

The two leaders reaffirmed the long-standing ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ and pledged to deepen cooperation in a variety of areas, including politics and security, economics, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also discussed regional and global developments, such as Afghanistan, Palestine, and South Asia, as well as the human rights situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The two sides reiterated their longstanding support for each other’s core interests.

The prime minister praised President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), emphasizing that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as the flagship project of BRI, had made significant contributions to Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.

He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment and complete support for the safety and security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

President Xi Jinping also hosted a banquet in honor of the prime minister, during which another round of discussions on various topics of mutual interest were held.