PM’s China visit to mark launch of CPEC Phase-II

August 20, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan is set to formally launch Phase-II of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Beijing, with both sides expected to finalize clear priorities and agree on tangible, measurable outcomes.

The development comes as preparations are underway for the next session of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of CPEC.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that the future of CPEC must be anchored in quality rather than quantity chairing a high-level review meeting, said a press release issued yesterday.

Based on his recent visit to China, the Minister informed that, on behalf of the Prime Minister, he invited President Xi Jinping to visit Islamabad in 2026 to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan–China diplomatic relations.

The meeting also focused the importance of boosting Pakistan’s trade and export footprint in China. The Minister directed relevant departments to address delays in visa processing for genuine businesspersons and to prepare an outcome-focused plan to diversify exports, strengthen industrial linkages, and maximize market access under CPEC.

On human resource development, Professor Iqbal highlighted the need to fully utilize the 10,000 training opportunities offered by China.

He instructed the establishment of a transparent framework to ensure that training is aligned with institutional needs, thereby contributing to durable capacity-building and organizational growth.

Progress was reviewed in priority areas including the Multan–Sukkur Motorway, IT graduate training programs, AI infrastructure, industrial relocation, special economic zones, mining, and agriculture.

The Minister called for data-driven studies on Chinese industrial relocation trends and urged mapping of Chinese market segments aligned with Pakistan’s export strengths. He stressed that Pakistan must aim to capture $30–50 billion of China’s annual imports worth over $2 trillion.

He further directed an outcome-oriented study to identify high-potential export sectors to create exportable surpluses, attract sustained investment, and strengthen Pakistan’s balance of payments.

Emphasizing policy continuity and institutional reforms, he reaffirmed the importance of private sector, academia, and research institutions’ engagement in CPEC cooperation.

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