China, Pakistan to accelerate CPEC 2.0, deepen cooperation i

By Wang Xiaotong

BEIJING, May 26 (China Economic Net) - China and Pakistan agreed to accelerate the development of CPEC 2.0, forge an upgraded bilateral free trade agreement, and explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital economy, agriculture and other fields, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, following the conclusion of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to China from May 23 to 26.

Mao Ning noted that as China and Pakistan marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the visit consolidated and elevated the special friendship between the two countries. It highlighted the strategic significance, mutually beneficial nature, and leading role of China-Pakistan relations through head of state diplomacy, pragmatic cooperation, and international coordination.

During the visit, the two sides signed multiple cooperation documents covering economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture and food, human resources and other areas.

“The world is experiencing accelerating transformations unseen in a century. China and Pakistan have come to new junctures and face important opportunities for their respective modernization and bilateral cooperation in various fields,” Mao remarked.

“China stands ready to work with Pakistan to deepen high-level political mutual trust, practical cooperation, security cooperation, and international coordination, to write a new chapter for China-Pakistan relations,” Mao stressed.