ISLAMABAD (MNN); Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum has emerged as a vital platform for strengthening media cooperation and promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.
Addressing the 9th CPEC Media Forum, Ambassador Jiang noted that since its launch in 2015, the forum has played a key role in supporting CPEC development by fostering positive public opinion, sharing cooperation stories, and countering misleading narratives surrounding the project.
He recalled that the forum was established the same year as President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan, which laid the foundation of the “1+4” cooperation framework for CPEC. Over the past decade, he said, CPEC has evolved into a comprehensive, multi-sector cooperation initiative and a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s economic and social development.
The ambassador highlighted the forum’s transformation into a high-level dialogue platform, noting initiatives such as the Golden Anchor Award for CPEC Communication and the Journalists’ Fellowship Program, which have helped amplify the CPEC narrative and deepen media collaboration.
Ambassador Jiang said the steady economic progress of both China and Pakistan has injected fresh momentum into CPEC. He shared that China’s economy continues to show resilience, with strong GDP growth, rapid expansion in high-tech manufacturing, and record production of new energy vehicles. He added that China’s GDP is expected to reach RMB 140 trillion this year.
Referring to Pakistan’s economy, he welcomed recent improvements, including higher GDP growth, increased fiscal and tax revenues, rising per capita income, growing foreign exchange reserves, and improved sovereign credit ratings.
He said these positive trends have paved the way for the next phase of cooperation, termed “CPEC 2.0,” offering new opportunities for media engagement and dialogue.
Looking ahead, Ambassador Jiang said CPEC would remain a central pillar of China-Pakistan relations. With the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties approaching next year, he expressed China’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to deepen all-weather strategic cooperation and strengthen media collaboration.
He urged media professionals from both countries to play an active role as interpreters of development progress, communicators of CPEC achievements, and promoters of the longstanding China-Pakistan friendship.
He concluded by expressing confidence that the forum would continue to contribute to building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
