Vice Minister of Commerce Ren Hongbin and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs of Pakistan Omar Ayub Khan co-chaired the 15th Meeting of the China-Pakistan Joint Economic Committee via video link in the afternoon of December 8. The two sides reached broad consensus on a number of issues, including deepening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Vice Minister Ren said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance and personal support of the leaders of the two countries, China and Pakistan have advanced Belt and Road cooperation, made steady progress in the high quality development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and further substantiated bilateral trade and economic cooperation. A “1+4” cooperation framework has been forged with CPEC at its core, and Gwardar Port, transport infrastructure, energy and industry as four cooperation priorities. The two sides have delivered notable outcomes in such cooperation areas as trade and investment, infrastructure, economy and technology, thus injecting new impetus to Pakistan’s economic and social development. Taking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan as an opportunity, China is ready to further align its development strategies with Pakistan’s, boost bilateral trade, promote investment cooperation, work closer to fight COVID-19 and mitigate poverty, and strengthen cooperation at local levels and under multilateral frameworks. China hopes to work with Pakistan toward high-quality development of bilateral commercial cooperation and thus make greater contributions to a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future for a new era. China welcomes and supports more exports from Pakistan.

Federal Minister Mr. Omar said that China and Pakistan enjoy a time-honored friendship. Pakistan attaches great importance to and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to work with China to bring CPEC to a new height. Pakistan thanks China for its generous assistance to Pakistan to fight the pandemic, and hopes that such cooperation on COVID-19 can be intensified in the future. Pakistan also hopes to work out with China a bilateral trade and economic cooperation framework for the next five years, expand trade and investment cooperation, and step up cooperation on agriculture, industry and information technology, etc. Pakistan stands ready to strengthen cooperation with China under the WTO, and make new progress in bilateral trade and economic relations so as to benefit the two peoples.

China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mr. Nong Rong, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Pakistan Mr. Asad, Secretary of the Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Division Mr. Muhammad, and representatives of relevant departments, local authorities and business associations of the two sides attended the meeting.

(All information published on this website is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only.)