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Pakistan and China agreed to launch new CPEC projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, pledging deeper economic, trade, and security cooperation during high-level talks in Islamabad, including the next phase, "CPEC 2.0."
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad. (Photo: X)
UPDATED: Aug 22, 2025 06:20 IST
Pakistan and China have vowed to strengthen their economic partnership and launch new projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Associated Press reported, citing officials.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Pakistani counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad for the sixth round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. Taking to X, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two sides reviewed the full scope of bilateral relations and agreed to expand cooperation through fresh CPEC ventures, including the next phase known as "CPEC 2.0," though specific projects were not immediately disclosed.
CPEC, part of the BRI—known in China as "One Belt, One Road"—has already brought major Chinese investment into Pakistan, including roads, power plants, and rail networks linking China’s Xinjiang region to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. The initiative has become central to China’s strategy to broaden its global influence across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Both ministers also discussed collaboration in trade, science, technology, agriculture, industry, multilateral cooperation, and people-to-people ties. They underlined the "All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership" between Pakistan and China, calling it vital for regional peace, stability, and the shared prosperity of both nations.
Wang emphasised the need for Pakistan to ensure the safety of Chinese nationals working on development projects, particularly in Balochistan province, where separatist attacks have targeted Chinese workers in recent years. Pakistan has stepped up security for such projects amid ongoing economic challenges.
The talks came after Wang and Dar’s joint visit to Kabul for trilateral discussions with Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers and followed Wang’s recent visit to India aimed at easing tensions between Beijing and New Delhi.
- Ends
With inputs from Associated Press
Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Aug 22, 2025
