Chinese consul Yang Yundong said on Friday that both China and Pakistan focused on the completion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) project and the main project of the line-1 (ML-1).
Pakistan has maintained strong bilateral relations with China, which have supported it through many development investments and projects such as the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which was called a “line of life” for the country’s economy.
In September of last year, China agreed to help Pakistan complete four important projects in the transport and communications sectors.
Both countries worked together to complete ML-1, M-6 and M-9 projects together with the second phase of KKH and the construction of Kaghan-Naran, Jhal Khand, Babusar Top and Tunnel to Kkh.
Speaking at a press conference for ‘two sessions for 2025’ at the General Consulate of China, Yang said: “Both parties are working very hard to complete these projects.”
“The New International Airport in Gwadar, which was completed only last year, will also contribute to the opening of more opportunities,” he said, added: “Both China and Pakistan are encouraging more ships to use the port of Gwadar for commerce.”
The ‘two sessions’ marked a fundamental annual event for the economic and social development of China. Yang revealed that China achieved the main objectives and tasks established for the economic and social development of the year in 2024.
“Chinese modernization has made new significant achievements, with high quality development that constantly advance and new productive forces that develop in a robust way,” he said, added that China anticipated the growth of GDP of around 5 percent.
“At the same time, China will continue to expand the opening of high standard to the outside world and promote the deep and noun progress of the high quality construction of the belt initiative and the road,” he added.
“These important measures will undoubtedly provide new opportunities for the world through the new developments of Chinese modernization.”
He also said that the main diplomacy with Chinese characteristics had opened new horizons, and international cooperation achieved new progress for China.
“This year’s government work report emphasized that China will adhere to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, will continue to be committed to the path of peaceful development and will firmly follow an open strategy of mutual benefit and cooperation for mutual benefit,” he continued.
“China is willing to work with countries around the world to jointly advance a multipolar world equal and orderly and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, defend and practice true multilateralism, actively address the main global challenges and provide new development opportunities for the world.”
The Chinese official said that 2025 marked the tenth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s historical visit to Pakistan, adding that the two countries would celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
Relations with China-Pakistan are in an important development and development opportunity, he said.
He continued: “The two countries and their peoples should take this opportunity to further improve communication and coordination, deepen practical cooperation in several fields and improve CPEC.
“Together, we will take firm steps towards modernization, we will accelerate the construction of a closer community of China-Pakistan with a future shared in the new era, we will bring more benefits to the two peoples and jointly create a more prosperous and stable future.”
The ML-1 rail line, from Karachi to Peshawar, is a crucial component of CPEC. Both China and Pakistan had renewed the commitment in October 2024 to advance in the update of the ML-1 line project.
Previously, Railroad Minister Hanif Abbasi said the Government could finance the ML-1 main line in case there are no international funds or partners. His statement came at a time when the Government and the Ministry of Railways were waiting for a long -awaited visit of the High Power Technical Team of China at the end of March.
