Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed China’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including its second phase, reached communities across Pakistan.

He cited $25.9 billion in direct investment under CPEC and identified agriculture as an important area for further cooperation, he was addressing an event held here in Friday.

On the occasion, CICG Centre for Europe and Asia (China Pictorial Publications) released a report examining international perspectives on China’s poverty alleviation achievements, philosophy and experience during the 2026 China-South Asia Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation.

Jiang also called for stronger bilateral agricultural trade, referring to an agricultural forum held on January 19, 2026, and stressing the need to improve Pakistan’s trade balance with China.

The Ambassador said, President Xi Jinping had prioritised improving people’s livelihoods since 2012, promoting targeted poverty alleviation through visits to impoverished regions and policies tailored to local conditions.

He said China had established a five-year transition period following the elimination of absolute poverty to consolidate its achievements and prevent people from falling back into poverty.

Jiang also highlighted China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), launched in 2021, saying $23 billion had been mobilised for cooperation projects benefiting more than 40 million people.

Speaking on the occasion Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, said the two countries were cooperating on development projects aimed at improving people’s daily lives.

He said CPEC had contributed to improvements in roads and electricity, while joint social development initiatives were supporting access to healthcare, clean drinking water and modern farming.

Around 15,000 solar lights had reached households in Balochistan through development initiatives, he added.

Subhani said future cooperation should prioritise projects that directly benefit communities, including vocational training, support for small businesses and access to essential services.

He noted that South Asian countries faced common challenges, including poverty, unemployment, floods and unequal access to basic facilities.

The event also featured presentations of the English edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Volume V; the Urdu edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Volume II; and the English edition of Up and Out of Poverty to invited guests from South Asian countries.

Thematic sessions explored poverty reduction practices, inclusive development, regional cooperation and emerging sources of economic growth.

Speakers included Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics; Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute; Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative of UN Women Pakistan; Liu Yonggang of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Ltd.; Moeed Yusuf, Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University; Wang Huihua of Energy China International Group Ltd. (Pakistan); and development economist Vaqar Ahmed.

The discussions highlighted the importance of effective governance, technological innovation and regional partnerships in advancing sustainable development and poverty reduction across South Asia.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China