ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong discussed the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), reaffirming the resolve to strengthen industrial and business-to-business cooperation.

The minister noted that during Mr Sun’s past diplomatic tenure in Pakistan, “we transformed the CPEC from a paper plan into a multibillion-dollar reality”.

“China’s development model remains a source of inspiration for Pakistan. Learning from China’s experience, Pakistan is moving toward building an export-oriented and technology-driven economy,” he said.

Mr Iqbal added that the government’s “Five Es” framework, part of the URAAN Pakistan initiative, is fully aligned with the vision for the next phase of CPEC, which will have industrial and technological sectors as its key pillars.

“The people of Pakistan take pride in the everlasting friendship with the leadership and people of China,” Mr Iqbal said, while also appreciating the country’s support during recent regional tensions.

Mr Iqbal stressed that developing a skilled, educated workforce and promoting business-to-business collaboration is a focus for next stage of the multi-billion-dollar project.

Mr Sun reaffirmed China’s strong commitment to enhancing cooperation with Pakistan across various sectors.

He said Pakistan’s “Five Es” framework offers a promising path toward economic stability and self-reliance.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2025