A 12-member delegation from Gwadar, Pakistan finished a five-day visit to Hebei Province's Caofeidian Free Trade Zone on July 19, with both sides agreed for deeper cooperation in ports, logistics, industrial parks, and technical training.

The delegation, which included officials from the Gwadar Port Authority, Balochistan's investment and trade board, fisheries department, and the local development authority, toured Caofeidian's deep-water port facilities, bonded warehouses, cross-border e-commerce hubs, and industrial parks during the July 15-19 trip.

They also visited the city's vocational education campus and a joint project with North China University of Science and Technology, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday.

Talks in Caofeidian centered on five pillars of cooperation: port-to-port shipping connectivity, free-trade zone management, industrial park development, technical and vocational exchange programs, and a permanent communication channel between the two sides.

Feng Lei, a senior official with the Caofeidian economic zone, hosted the delegation along with free trade zone bureau director Sun Kongguang and deputy director Cheng Peng.

"This visit is a practical step toward connecting Gwadar's gateway role in CPEC with Caofeidian's industrial strengths," Sun told the delegation during a briefing.

The Chinese side outlined the zone's deep-water advantages and policy incentives, while Pakistani officials updated their hosts on Gwadar Port's current operations and expansion plans.

The itinerary covered everything from bulk cargo terminals and supply chain digital platforms to tourist developments including Doma Amusement Park and Lanyu Bay. The delegation left for Islamabad via Beijing Capital International Airport on July 19.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular communication, with Pakistani officials describing the visit as "an important step" in strengthening ties between the two port cities.

The cooperation framework is expected to move forward through joint working groups and information-sharing mechanisms in the coming months.

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