China-Pakistan Action Plan to boost air connectivity and people-to-people exchanges

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Pakistan and China have finalized an ambitious China-Pakistan Action Plan (2025–2029) in Beijing, under which the two sides agreed to expand civil aviation cooperation by encouraging airlines to launch new direct flight routes and increase frequencies of existing ones.

Pakistani government officials said the agreement on enhanced air connectivity is a major step under the plan’s people-to-people exchange framework, which also covers cultural, educational, tourism, and trade linkages. By easing travel between the two countries, the initiative will facilitate business communities, students, professionals, and tourists, further strengthening bilateral ties at the societal level.

The plan envisions civil aviation as a vital enabler of connectivity, complementing flagship projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and regional integration initiatives. Enhanced flight options are expected to reduce travel time, expand opportunities for exchanges, and reinforce economic, academic, and cultural collaboration.

Officials stressed that stronger air connectivity would not only ease mobility but also deepen the longstanding friendship between the peoples of China and Pakistan, making bilateral cooperation more vibrant and multidimensional.