Islamabad June 16, 2025 (Khyber Mail): The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a high-level roundtable discussion on June 16, 2025, welcoming senior officials from the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC). The dialogue focused on regional stability, China’s role in the Global South, and advancing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to reinforce the All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
The Chinese delegation, led by Mr. Hu Zhaoming, Spokesperson of IDCPC and Director General of its Information and Communication Bureau, included officials from the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad and members of the IDCPC’s Information and Communication Bureau. On the Pakistani side, distinguished diplomats, analysts, and academics participated, including Ambassadors Zamir Akram, Masood Khalid, and Babar Amin, along with experts from strategic and academic circles.
Welcoming the delegation, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI, reaffirmed the strategic trust underpinning Pakistan-China ties, describing the relationship as critical to Pakistan’s foreign policy. He praised CPEC’s transformative impact, lauding China’s peaceful rise under President Xi Jinping’s leadership. Stronger media collaboration, youth engagement, and people-to-people exchanges were emphasized as key to reinforcing bilateral cooperation.
Mr. Hu Zhaoming elaborated on China’s evolving foreign policy, underscoring its commitment to peace, high-quality development, and modernization. He reiterated that China remains a steadfast ally of the Global South, viewing Pakistan as an essential partner in shaping regional cooperation and stability.
Participants explored ways to deepen CPEC collaboration, counter geopolitical misperceptions, and expand engagement across political, academic, and media spheres. The discussions affirmed a strong mutual desire for an inclusive, future-oriented partnership, built on trust, economic cooperation, and strategic alignment.
In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG, ISSI, emphasized the need to enhance cultural diplomacy and people-to-people connections, ensuring that the China-Pakistan friendship remains a lasting legacy for future generations.