Islamabad: Pakistan and China today formalised the next stage of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by signing the minutes of the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting and a significant accord on climate change cooperation. The agreements, which include the provision of solar technology and an advanced early warning system to Pakistan, were signed by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong during an awards ceremony on Tuesday.
The signings took place at the Annual Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Pakistani and Chinese Staff of CPEC Projects 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to honour the contributions of personnel from both nations.
Addressing the event, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal stated that CPEC has been transformative for Pakistan’s economic architecture, having completed 43 projects valued at approximately USD 25 billion and adding nearly 9,000 MW of electricity to the national grid.
He emphasised that the multi-billion-dollar initiative is now entering its second phase, pivoting from infrastructure to industrialisation, innovation, and inclusive growth. This new stage, dubbed CPEC 2.0, is guided by a comprehensive Five-Year Action Plan (2025–2029).
The Minister outlined that CPEC 2.0 will prioritise industrial development through Special Economic Zones, digital collaboration under the Digital Silk Road, renewable energy projects, livelihood initiatives, and enhanced regional connectivity.
Mr Iqbal also underscored the expanding role of the private sector in driving this next phase, noting increased investment momentum in exports, value-added industries, and human capital development, including the proposed China–Pakistan Knowledge Corridor.
The Ambassador of China, Mr Jiang Zaidong, reaffirmed his country”s commitment to advancing an “upgraded version” of CPEC, confirming that bilateral cooperation is broadening into new sectors such as agriculture, mining, and social development. He pointed to strong growth in agricultural trade and mineral exports as evidence of this expanding collaboration.
The Ambassador also stressed the importance of livelihood-focused projects in health, education, and community development. He described this as a shift toward smaller, high-impact interventions designed to directly benefit local populations and strengthen people-to-people ties.
The newly signed Acceptance Certificate for climate change response falls under the China–Pakistan South–South Cooperation framework. It sanctions the transfer of Solar Home Systems, an Intelligent Ground Meteorological Observation Station, and an Integrated Cloud-Based Early Warning Supporting (EWS) System from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment.
Dr Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), congratulated the award recipients and noted that the success of CPEC is ultimately driven by the dedication and skill of its workforce.
Mr Wang Huihua, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan, also extended his congratulations, reaffirming that the partnership between the two nations would continue to strengthen based on mutual trust and shared objectives.
The ceremony also commemorated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China with a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolising the enduring bilateral partnership. The event concluded with the distribution of awards to outstanding staff by Professor Ahsan Iqbal and Ambassador Jiang Zaidong.