Overview

• The 14th Joint Cooperation Committee convened in Beijing, co‑chaired by Pakistan’s Ahsan Iqbal and China’s NDRC chief Zheng Shanjie, to formally kick off CPEC 2.0 with MoUs slated for trade, digital technology, green energy and water management.
• Officials endorsed five thematic corridors—Growth, Innovation, Green, Livelihood and Regional Connectivity—aligned with Pakistan’s 5Es framework to reorient the program toward people‑centric development.
• Plans highlight major human‑capital and tech initiatives including a proposal for 10,000 PhD scholarships, innovation hubs and technology parks, a Digital Silk Road push with 5G, fiber and data centers, and a Pakistan Export Promotion Digital Platform.
• Connectivity priorities advanced include modernization of the ML‑1 railway via a proposed blended financing model with AIIB and ADB, confirmed 85% financing for the Thakot Dry Port–KKH realignment targeted by 2028, and expanded Gwadar operations with COSCO engagement under discussion.
• Pakistan reiterated security guarantees for Chinese personnel and proposed more frequent JCC and working group meetings, while Phase‑II measures also cover SEZ expansion, climate‑smart agriculture, a Green Corridor, Climate Response Teams and pilot adaptation districts.