ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and China have formally launched the China-Pakistan Information Corridor (CPIC) in Islamabad to strengthen media cooperation, promote information sharing and deepen public understanding of their longstanding partnership.
The initiative was inaugurated at the Pakistan-China Friendship Centre on Tuesday. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the project would help preserve the legacy of Pakistan-China friendship and pass it on to future generations.
Tarar said strengthening bilateral ties was a shared responsibility and described the relationship between the two countries as a unique, “iron-clad” friendship. He said the importance of the information corridor had grown amid the need for stronger communication and greater mutual understanding.
He announced that the first regional office of the corridor’s trade pillar had been established in Karachi.
Tarar described the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the body of the two countries’ shared future and the information corridor as its voice. He said CPEC connected their economies, while CPIC would bring their people closer through information exchange and cooperation.
The initiative will operate through four pillars: media, business and enterprise, think tanks, and culture, tourism and youth.
The media pillar will support verified news exchanges between Pakistani and Chinese media organisations and develop fact-checking mechanisms to counter misinformation. The business component will promote trade and investment links, while the think-tank pillar will encourage joint research, dialogue and publications.
The culture, tourism and youth pillar will focus on people-to-people contacts, cultural understanding and opportunities for youth exchanges.
Tarar said the corridor would help counter false information, reduce mistrust and create more opportunities for engagement between the two nations.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong welcomed the initiative, saying it would strengthen understanding of each country’s culture and traditions through information sharing. He said the corridor could also help counter propaganda targeting the two countries and support a more informed public understanding of their relationship.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the launch as timely and important, citing the growing challenges posed by fake news and misinformation. She said the initiative’s four pillars would help communicate the achievements of Pakistan-China cooperation and encourage more people to understand and support the bilateral friendship.
Mao added that the corridor would contribute to a stronger public foundation for the two countries’ all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.
Information Secretary Ashfaq Ahmed Khalil said the project would bring together media organisations, academic institutions, think tanks, businesses and young people from both countries.
He said Pakistan and China would work together to present their partnership accurately and positively. Existing agreements between news agencies, broadcasters and film organisations would provide a foundation for cooperation in news exchange, content sharing and joint productions.
Khalil thanked Chinese partners, particularly the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, for supporting the initiative. He said the corridor would facilitate the exchange of information, media content and professional expertise while promoting credible reporting on bilateral relations.
The inauguration ceremony also featured documentaries highlighting the history of Pakistan-China cooperation and cultural performances celebrating the friendship between the two countries.
