Green, innovative, inclusive cooperation underpins China-Pakistan relations as ties enter new stage

As China and Pakistan commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the two nations are advancing bilateral cooperation toward a high-quality model focused on green growth, innovation, and inclusivity, according to scholars and diplomats attending the China-Pakistan Think Tank Forum in Beijing on Saturday.

At the event hosted by the National Institute of International Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Khalid Mahmood, former Pakistani Ambassador to China, noted that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and other global initiatives proposed by China offer much-needed certainty in an era of turbulence. He emphasized that the partnership has been guided by consultation, cooperation, and mutual respect, principles valued by both nations.

The shared philosophies are actively translated into practice through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is accelerating its transition from version 1.0 to 2.0 -- from solving infrastructure and energy bottlenecks to harnessing soft connectivity and industrial cooperation. Scholars noted that upgrading the corridor serves as a key driver to build a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

Traditional agricultural cooperation is gaining momentum. Citing a chili pepper project, CASS researcher Yang Chao noted that it has doubled or tripled farmers' incomes compared to wheat farming. Officially recognized by both governments as a flagship agricultural initiative under the CPEC, the initiative exemplifies that bilateral cooperation is expanding into rural development and people-to-people exchanges.

Data shows that agricultural products account for 26 percent of Pakistan's top ten exports to China, generating a trade surplus of roughly 500 million U.S. dollars for Pakistan.

Green development is another key sector accelerating the upgrading process. Aizaz Khan, deputy head of mission at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, identified green energy and climate resilience as critical areas for future cooperation. He highlighted that China's leadership in renewable energy offers a viable pathway to sustainable growth, suggesting that expanding CPEC's green portfolio with solar and wind farms has the potential to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

This is echoed by Neelum Nigar, a researcher at the Islamabad Institute of Strategic Studies, who proposed more cooperation on upgrading Pakistan's thermal-dependent power grid to build nationwide solar networks to reduce costs and improve stability. Meanwhile, it is necessary to transform special economic zones into eco-industrial parks in Pakistan, to ensure sustainable industrialization, Nigar said.

In the digital economy sphere, the two countries are leveraging China's expertise in 5G and artificial intelligence to advance Pakistan's tech sector. Khan noted that digital literacy programs are essential to bridging the digital divide. For instance, Chinese company Huawei has already trained tens of thousands of local professionals on telecommunication skills, and a recent memorandum of understanding signed by Alibaba and Pakistan's government departments aims to empower local startups in frontier technologies, he said.

Scholars also anticipate future cooperation in emerging sectors such as space exploration and advanced manufacturing. Earlier this year, China announced that the first foreign astronaut to visit the Chinese space station will be from Pakistan, marking a significant milestone in high-tech collaboration.

Manufacturing cooperation is shifting from export-driven models to building overseas supply chains leveraging the advantages of special economic zones, said Mao Keji, a researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission. He cited electronics assembly as a key sector that helps transform Pakistan into an industrial power in new energy vehicles, solar panels, and consumer electronics.

Global governance has also been deepened by the two countries with a shared commitment. Earlier this year, the two sides released a joint initiative on peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region. Cultural ties through film co-productions and people-to-people exchanges, especially in education and human resources, have also advanced significantly as bilateral relations shift into high gear.

As both nations look to the decades ahead, the CPEC 2.0 upgrade is far more than an economic blueprint -- it is a profound evolution of their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. By deepening their community with a shared future, China and Pakistan are setting a new benchmark for South-South cooperation, scholars said.