Pakistan and China have formally launched the China-Pakistan Information Corridor under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, marking a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation in media, digital communication, cultural exchange and public diplomacy.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong attended the inauguration ceremony alongside other officials.
The participants jointly launched the initiative by placing their hands on a globe incorporated into the China-Pakistan Information Corridor’s official logo.
Addressing the ceremony, Mao Ning said relations between Pakistan and China had developed beyond traditional friendship into a strategic partnership, with CPEC playing an important role in improving the lives of people in both countries.
She highlighted the growing challenges posed by fake news and misinformation worldwide, saying the establishment of the information corridor had become increasingly important in the present global environment.
Drawing a comparison with the construction of the Karakoram Highway, she said Pakistan and China were now undertaking the similarly challenging task of building a digital highway to connect their societies.
Speaking on the occasion, Attaullah Tarar described Pakistan-China friendship as a valuable legacy inherited from previous generations, which both countries had a responsibility to preserve and pass on to future generations.
He announced that a dedicated secretariat had been established to oversee the functioning of the China-Pakistan Information Corridor.
The minister said that while CPEC was designed to connect the economies of Pakistan and China, the new information corridor would bring their people closer by connecting their ideas, perspectives and ways of thinking.
Tarar explained that the initiative would operate through four principal areas of cooperation: media and fact-checking, business enterprises, think tanks, and culture, tourism and youth engagement.
He said Pakistan-China relations had remained consistent over the past seven decades despite major changes in international politics, alliances and global circumstances.
Referring to the government’s digital development agenda, Tarar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was pursuing the vision of a Digital Pakistan, with efforts underway to expand the digital economy and accelerate technological transformation.
He also referred to the government’s economic ambitions for 2030 and its commitment to advancing digital development.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong emphasised the importance of translating bilateral cooperation into meaningful benefits for the people of both countries.
He said China had consistently shared its positive experiences with Pakistan and expressed confidence that the information corridor would provide an important platform for expanding these exchanges.
The ambassador stressed that stronger practical cooperation would help both countries deliver tangible outcomes for their citizens and further consolidate their longstanding strategic partnership.
The inauguration ceremony also featured cultural performances by Pakistani and Chinese artists, celebrating the cultural ties between the two countries. The performances received an enthusiastic response from participants.
The launch of the China-Pakistan Information Corridor represents an effort to expand bilateral cooperation beyond infrastructure and economic development into information-sharing, media engagement, digital connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.