ISLAMABAD (MNN); Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong on Tuesday said China and Pakistan aim to elevate bilateral cooperation in the mineral sector by adopting a full-value chain approach that supports sustainable development, environmental protection and local community welfare.
Addressing the China-Pakistan Mineral Cooperation Forum in Islamabad, Ambassador Jiang said the forum was the first mineral-focused platform jointly organised by the two countries in recent years. He noted that the initiative was designed to strengthen practical cooperation rather than expand in scope without clear objectives.
The ambassador said China and Pakistan intend to upgrade cooperation beyond mineral exploration and mining to cover the entire value chain, including machinery and equipment, smelting and processing, trade, logistics, finance, research and professional training. He stressed that the goal was to help Pakistan move from raw material exports to higher value-added processing and manufacturing.
Highlighting Pakistan’s mineral potential, Jiang said the country extracts over 100 million tons of ore annually, with nearly 80 percent coming from small and medium-sized projects that face challenges such as limited capital, technology and skilled manpower. He said Chinese enterprises have increased financial and technological investment to help unlock Pakistan’s mineral resources and support economic transformation.
Ambassador Jiang said that full-value chain cooperation would help Pakistan convert its natural resource advantages into tangible economic gains while also ensuring reasonable returns for investors, creating a mutually beneficial and win-win model for both sides.
He also underlined the importance of environmentally responsible mining, saying China supports global green transformation and has promoted international cooperation on green mining and mineral supply chains. He urged enterprises operating in Pakistan to adopt eco-friendly mining practices, citing the Duddar mining project as a successful example of green ecological mine construction.
The Chinese envoy said mineral development should go hand in hand with environmental protection through proper impact assessments, ecological restoration and scientific mining methods. He welcomed regulatory oversight by Pakistani authorities and called for a fair and supportive business environment for Chinese companies.
Focusing on local communities, Ambassador Jiang said China encourages its companies to ensure that mining projects benefit residents of surrounding areas. He cited the Saindak project, which has trained thousands of Pakistani workers and maintained cooperation with local suppliers.
Looking ahead, he said China would encourage companies to allocate part of their revenues to social sectors such as education, health and skills training, while balancing short-term improvements with long-term community development.
Ambassador Jiang said 2025 marks an important year for both countries’ development plans and expressed China’s commitment to deepening strategic alignment with Pakistan as the two countries approach the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
