China has praised Pakistan’s calm and responsible handling of its recent military standoff with India, expressing optimism for long-term peace and regional stability.
During a luncheon hosted in Islamabad by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong commended Pakistan’s diplomatic and military restraint amid heightened tensions. He noted that the return to peace would prove beneficial for Pakistan’s development prospects.
The standoff followed Pakistan’s military retaliation — dubbed “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos” — in response to ongoing Indian incursions across the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan’s forces carried out precise strikes on Indian military assets, downing six fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones. The conflict, which lasted nearly 87 hours, ended on May 10 through a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
The escalation had been triggered by a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which killed 26 tourists. India blamed Pakistan without presenting any evidence, further straining bilateral ties.
At the luncheon, Minister Iqbal thanked China for its unwavering support during the crisis. “At every critical juncture, China has stood firmly with Pakistan. Our friendship is rooted in trust and shared aspirations,” he said.
Both sides expressed their commitment to accelerating progress on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The minister shared that Gwadar Port is now fully connected to Pakistan’s national power grid, a milestone expected to boost its operational capacity.
“Linking Gwadar to the grid transforms it into a true regional gateway of prosperity. CPEC is key to our economic future and integration with neighboring regions,” Iqbal stated.
Ambassador Jiang agreed, saying Gwadar’s strategic importance is increasingly being recognized globally. He reaffirmed China’s dedication to advancing CPEC and praised Iqbal’s consistent leadership in steering the initiative forward.
The two also reviewed preparations for the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting scheduled for July 2025. Minister Iqbal expressed Pakistan’s aim to ensure a performance-driven outcome. “We’re moving from planning to execution. Every CPEC project must deliver meaningful results,” he said.
Ambassador Jiang confirmed China’s full backing of Pakistan’s “Uraan Pakistan” development vision. Discussions also focused on expanding CPEC’s regional outreach by connecting Gwadar to Afghanistan and Central Asia, improving market access across the region.
On agricultural cooperation, Minister Iqbal highlighted the training of Pakistan’s first batch of Chinese-sponsored agricultural graduates, noting their potential to modernize the country’s agriculture sector.
“These talented individuals will become drivers of agricultural transformation and food security in Pakistan,” he added.
Iqbal also emphasized the importance of launching strategic infrastructure projects like the Karakoram Highway Phase-II and the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway upgrade. Additionally, he proposed new academic partnerships between leading Chinese institutions and Pakistani universities, including Daanish University and the Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre.
