PM Shehbaz Sharif Addresses China’s National Day Event, Says CPEC 2.0 to Focus on Industry, IT and Agriculture

ISLAMABAD: Report by Muhammad.Saleem

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, extended heartfelt congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people. He said China plays a vitally important role in global peace, stability and development.
The prime minister noted that 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations. He said the friendship has withstood every test, from earthquakes to storms and floods, and that ties with China remain a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is entering its next phase, CPEC 2.0, which will focus on industrialization, special economic zones, information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, mining and minerals. The first group of 1,000 Pakistani agriculture graduates has completed training in China, and another 1,000 are ready to depart, he said, calling it a valuable investment in the country’s youth.
The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to building, together with China, a “closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong also addressed the event, describing the two countries as all-weather strategic cooperative partners. He said China would advance high-quality development of CPEC 2.0 with a focus on industry, agriculture and mining, and speed up preparations for an upgraded China-Pakistan free trade agreement. He also pledged to accelerate the construction of 100 clean water centers in Balochistan, the upgrading of 1,000 smart classrooms and the distribution of 100,000 school kits, and to deepen cooperation in defense, security and counterterrorism.
The ambassador praised the prime minister’s address at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The prime minister, for his part, recalled talks in March between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, after which the two sides jointly issued a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East.