ISLAMABAD: The third round of the Joint Consultative Mechanism (JCM) between Political Parties on CPEC and the Pakistan-China Political Parties Forum took place today in Islamabad, said Foreign Office in a statement on Friday.
Co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Minister of the Central Committee of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) Liu Jianchao, the meeting saw the attendance of Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and representatives from major political parties in Pakistan.
Senator Dar commended CPEC’s positive impact on Pakistan’s socioeconomic development, praising the political consensus on CPEC in both countries.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to building on CPEC’s success and upgrading it in Phase-II, highlighting the strong political consensus in Pakistan regarding the significance of Pakistan-China friendship for regional peace and development.
The Foreign Office statement stated that Minister Liu Jianchao expressed China’s readiness to collaborate with Pakistan in developing five major growth corridors, emphasizing the importance of political parties in consolidating Pakistan-China relations and promoting support for CPEC. He expressed China’s interest in strengthening party-to-party exchanges and holding the Fourth JCM Meeting in 2026.
Representatives from various political parties in Pakistan, including PML(N), PPPP, JUI(F), MQM, National Party, BAP, IPP, PTI, ANP, NDM, and JI, reaffirmed their support for Pakistan-China relations and CPEC, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries and the crucial role of political parties in enhancing bilateral ties.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), said that there is a national consensus on CPEC in Pakistan. Maulana emphasized China’s unwavering support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, noting that Pakistan reciprocates this support for China on the Taiwan issue.
He highlighted the importance of resuming and completing stalled projects with China while advocating for strengthened cooperation. Maulana stressed the preservation of China’s protocol and underscored the necessity for continued collaboration between the two nations.
Yusuf Raza Gilani
Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani said that CPEC is a crucial project for economic development and that the fellowship between Pakistan and China is higher than the Himalayas. He described CPEC as the backbone of the Pakistani economy and a warrantor of a better future and development for both countries.
Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq
Speaker of the National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq stated that Pakistan and China are both advocates for peace and prosperity in the region. He highlighted the significant contributions of the CPEC project to social and economic development.
Sadiq emphasized that CPEC would be further strengthened by fostering relations between the political parties of Pakistan and China, with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reinforcing the ties between the two nations.
He acknowledged that the CPEC project had faced disinformation in the past but affirmed that it continues to be a catalyst for poverty reduction, economic growth, and trade promotion.
Ahsan Iqbal
Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, speaking at the China-Pakistan Consultative Mechanism meeting, emphasized the unique and friendly relations between Pakistan and China. He reiterated the national consensus on CPEC, assuring that the Pakistani nation would always remember China’s support.
Iqbal highlighted the importance of collaboration to secure a prosperous future, noting that the exchange of delegations would foster harmony between politicians from both countries. He pointed out that the gathering of political parties demonstrates a united political leadership.
Iqbal expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership for their support during Pakistan’s challenging times and mentioned that bilateral relations and cooperation were key topics during the Prime Minister’s visit to China.
Hina Rabbani Khar
Pakistan People’s Party leader and former minister Hina Rabbani Khar affirmed the united support of all political parties for CPEC, highlighting the significant roles of Pakistan and China in the global landscape. She praised China’s advancements in science and technology and noted that the People’s Party leadership initially established the foundation for Pakistan-China relations.
These relations were further strengthened by Benazir Bhutto, Asif Zardari, and Bilawal Bhutto. Khar welcomed the participation of all political parties in the joint session.
The fourth JCM Meeting is scheduled to take place in China in 2026.
