Chinese Ambassador Zaidong highlights strategic goals and bilateral cooperation with Pakistan on PRC’s 75th anniversary

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong emphasised the significance of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and outlined the nation’s strategic goals for the future.

Ambassador Jiang highlighted China’s commitment to high-quality development and modernisation, as well as the country’s dedication to fostering bilateral cooperation with Pakistan.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and is a critical year for achieving the goals and tasks of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan,” said Ambassador Jiang. “Facing a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, we adhere to the path of Chinese-style modernisation, comprehensively promote high-quality development, accelerate the development of new quality productive forces, transform and upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and strengthen emerging industries, and lay out the construction of future-oriented industries, so as to achieve a series of new developments.”

The ambassador noted the impressive growth in China’s exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, which collectively surpassed $146 billion in 2023. Emerging industries such as biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology also saw significant expansion, with their combined output exceeding $55 billion. Furthermore, the integrated development of the digital economy and the tangible economy is projected to reach $15.7 trillion by 2027.

“In 2023, exports of China’s ‘new trio,’ namely electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products, experienced a significant surge,” Jiang remarked. “The three major emerging industries, including biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology applications, are booming.”

Ambassador Jiang also provided insights into China’s economic performance, revealing that the country’s GDP grew by 5.3% year-on-year in the first quarter of the year. He emphasised the stable growth in both the industrial and service sectors and highlighted the notable increase in new energy vehicle production and sales.

“The upward trend of China’s economy has not changed, and China remains an important engine of global development,” Jiang asserted. “We are ready to use China’s new development to provide new opportunities for the world, and first of all, benefit our iron-clad friend Pakistan.”

Turning to bilateral relations, Ambassador Jiang underscored the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and praised Pakistan’s new government’s “5Es” framework, which aligns with China’s approach to high-quality development. He highlighted key achievements of CPEC Phase One, including the construction of renewable energy projects and the establishment of a buffalo embryo laboratory, which have contributed significantly to Pakistan’s economic and social development.

“The Pakistani government’s ‘5Es’ framework not only meets Pakistan’s current development needs but also chimes with China’s approach of promoting high-quality development through new quality productive forces,” Jiang noted. “The achievements of CPEC Phase One have provided crucial support for Pakistan’s economic and social development.”

Ambassador Jiang further mentioned ongoing and future initiatives under CPEC, including the construction of additional hydropower stations and the promotion of agricultural cooperation. He highlighted the recent handover of data from Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q Satellite, marking a new milestone in aerospace cooperation between the two countries.

“Looking forward to CPEC Phase Two, we are ready to work with Pakistan to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries,” Jiang said. “We aim to inject new impetus into China-Pakistan cooperation with China’s new development and promote the in-depth integration of the 5Cs with the 5Es, creating an upgraded version of the CPEC and building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.”

Addressing global economic concerns, Ambassador Jiang refuted claims of China’s economic overcapacity and unfair competition. He emphasised China’s contributions to global climate change mitigation and green transformation, citing the country’s leadership in new energy vehicle exports and renewable energy capacity.

“China’s new energy product exports benefit the world and make important contributions to addressing climate change and promoting green transformation,” Jiang stated. “In 2023, China exported 1.203 million new energy vehicles, becoming an important force leading the transformation of the global automobile industry.”

In conclusion, Ambassador Jiang reiterated China’s commitment to fair and inclusive economic globalisation, calling for international cooperation to combat protectionism and promote mutual benefit. He highlighted the strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, emphasising their joint efforts to advocate for global economic justice and shared prosperity.

“China is ready to work with friends from all walks of life in Pakistan to advocate universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation,” Jiang affirmed. “We must work together to make the ‘cake’ of economic globalisation bigger and fairly share it, promoting trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation for mutual benefit, win-win results, and common prosperity.”