Islamabad: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal has reiterated the government's commitment to improving and ensuring the security of CPEC projects. He made these remarks during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted that the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been successfully completed. The second phase is now focused on industrial cooperation, agriculture, information technology, and social development. He emphasized the importance of connecting CPEC to Central Asian states, noting that this would contribute to regional economic stability and economic cooperation.

The minister stressed the development of Gwadar and the establishment of Special Economic Zones as top government priorities. He also discussed ongoing collaboration with China in the agriculture sector and mentioned the national significance of establishing the Pakistan Space Centre, with China playing a pivotal role in its timely completion.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress of ongoing CPEC projects and discussed preparations for the upcoming Joint Cooperation Committee meeting, which is expected to result in key decisions to further strengthen bilateral relations. Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China's commitment to supporting Pakistan's development efforts and assured that bilateral cooperation will continue to expand in the coming years.