Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Islamabad on Friday for wide-ranging talks on regional security and counter-terrorism. The meeting comes as Beijing and Islamabad step up efforts to upgrade their long-standing strategic partnership.
According to Pakistan’s military media wing, both sides reaffirmed their resolve to deepen cooperation at bilateral, regional, and global levels. Wang underscored China’s “steadfast support” for Pakistan’s sovereignty and development, while Gen. Munir thanked Beijing for what he described as consistent and reliable backing. The two leaders ended the session with a pledge to jointly advance peace and stability across the region.
Part of a Broader Diplomatic Push
Wang Yi’s engagement with the army chief followed a packed day of meetings with Pakistan’s top civilian leadership, including the prime minister, president, and deputy prime minister. The Chinese foreign minister also co-chaired the sixth round of strategic dialogue with his counterpart, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
At that dialogue, the focus was squarely on taking the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into its next phase, often referred to as “CPEC 2.0.” Both countries agreed to transform the initiative into what they called a “growth, livelihood, green, and open corridor” — signaling a shift from purely infrastructure-heavy projects toward sectors such as industry, agriculture, mining, and clean energy.
CPEC as the Cornerstone
For Beijing, CPEC remains the flagship project of its Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia. Wang reiterated that China sees the Corridor not just as a trade and connectivity route but as the “cornerstone” of the partnership with Pakistan. He highlighted ongoing support for projects like Gwadar Port, the realignment of the Karakoram Highway, and the long-delayed ML-1 railway upgrade, which China says is open to third-party participation.
Dar, speaking alongside Wang, emphasized that Pakistan and China maintain “complete consensus” on all major regional and global issues. He framed the upgraded CPEC as critical for Pakistan’s economic revival, noting the focus on job creation, industrial growth, and resilience against external shocks.
Why This Matters
The timing of these engagements is notable. Pakistan continues to face serious economic and security challenges, while China is recalibrating its overseas Belt and Road projects to focus on sustainability and returns. By stressing security cooperation alongside economic projects, the two countries are signaling that their partnership is not limited to infrastructure but tied to broader strategic stability in South Asia.
