Pakistani, Chinese FMs discuss CPEC, other matters

Islamabad: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas Jilani held a meeting on in Tibet to address various matters, with a primary focus on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar initiative.

This meeting occurred during the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation in Tibet Autonomous Region.

They emphasized the positive trajectory of their bilateral relationship and engaged in discussions covering aspects of the Pakistan-China friendship, along with exchanging views on regional and global affairs, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.

This meeting followed propaganda that China had declined further cooperation in energy, water management, and climate change under the CPEC, which is a part of China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

However, the statement highlighted that the two foreign ministers reiterated their commitment to the CPEC and pledged to bolster high-level exchanges and strategic communication to ensure continued cooperation.

Based on the minutes of the 11th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), which is a strategic decision-making body for the CPEC, it was reported that Islamabad had accepted several Chinese demands to address Beijing’s concerns.

These minutes were signed in July during the visit of Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to Islamabad, even though the JCC meeting took place in October 2022.

The CPEC, valued at US $64 billion and initiated in 2015, aims to connect China’s Xinjiang province to the Gwadar port in Pakistan through a network of infrastructure, including roads, railways, and pipelines for transporting cargo, oil, and gas.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told a news briefing in islamabad that Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani’s current visit to China was upon the special invitation of Foreign Minister Wang Yi to participate in the Third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation, held in Tibet Autonomous Region from October 4-5, 2023.

This forum, established in 2018, serves as a platform for regional countries to strengthen practical cooperation in areas like connectivity, environmental preservation, ecological conservation, and cultural ties, with this year’s theme focusing on “Ecological Civilization and Environmental Protection.”

During the forum’s opening ceremony, Foreign Minister Jilani emphasized regional cooperation in addressing environmental challenges, climate change, and ecological preservation.

“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to ecological balance and advocated for policy coordination and experience-sharing among regional nations. Additionally, he expressed Pakistan’s support for regional collaboration in clean and sustainable development,” the spokesperson said.

Furthermore, on the sidelines of the forum, Foreign Minister Jilani held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, Sainbuyan Amarsaikha.

They emphasized their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Mongolia ties rooted in shared cultural and historical connections. Discussions encompassed plans for enhancing bilateral trade, investment, and mutually beneficial cooperation across various domains.