ISLAMABAD:

China and Pakistan are committed to enhancing economic growth and improving the well-being of their citizens as Beijing’s success in implementing Five-Year Plans offers a model for governance that can be valuable for Islamabad, which is working on its own Uraan five-year plan.

These remarks were made by China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong following conclusion of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held in Beijing from October 20 to 23. The session marked a significant step towards China’s ambitious goal of socialist modernisation.

“Both nations aim to prioritise people’s welfare, deepen reform and ensure national security and development,” the ambassador remarked. He said the discussions brought forth a detailed strategic plan for the next five years, with immense implications for the future of bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan.

The most notable outcome was the adoption of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, which would steer China’s economic trajectory from 2026 to 2030. With a clear focus on high-quality development, reform and innovation, the plan sets the groundwork for achieving the goal of socialist modernisation by 2035.

This transition is expected to build upon the solid economic foundation laid during the 14th Five-Year Plan, which saw China’s GDP surpass RMB 130 trillion. Jiang emphasised that China’s ongoing modernisation process offers significant avenues for deeper cooperation with Pakistan, a long-time strategic partner. Highlighting the shared development goals of both countries, he outlined opportunities for enhanced governance exchanges, particularly in the areas of agricultural modernisation, poverty alleviation and industrial development. The ambassador emphasised that China’s fight against poverty serves as a key area for collaboration as Beijing has lifted nearly 99 million rural people out of poverty during the 14th Five-Year Plan.

Drawing attention to the importance of agriculture and rural development, he revealed that China was ready to assist Pakistan in enhancing agricultural productivity and poverty alleviation efforts. This includes the expansion of contract farming and the introduction of machinery donations, especially in date-palm producing regions of Pakistan, expected to benefit over 13,000 farming households.