ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Foreign Office has reiterated its strong commitmentto advancing the trilateral cooperation mechanism involving Pakistan,Bangladesh, and China, following the inaugural meeting held last year inKunming, China. Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi emphasized that Islamabad iskeen to take this emerging framework forward, highlighting its potential tofoster tangible outcomes in regional connectivity, trade, and development.This declaration comes amid renewed momentum in Pakistan-China strategicties, as evidenced by recent high-level dialogues, raising anticipationabout the mechanism’s future trajectory and its implications for SouthAsia’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
The inaugural trilateral Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary-levelmeeting took place on June 19, 2025, in Kunming, Yunnan province. Itbrought together Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, BangladeshiActing Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, and Pakistani AdditionalSecretary Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, with Pakistan’s Foreign Secretaryparticipating virtually in the initial phase. The discussions focused onextensive exchanges regarding potential areas of collaboration, marking theformal launch of this structured dialogue platform among the three nations.
Participants at the Kunming meeting agreed to guide their cooperation bycore principles including good-neighbourliness, equality, mutual trust,openness, inclusivity, common development, and win-win outcomes. Thesefoundational elements underscore a shared vision for sustainable progress.The joint understanding also emphasized promoting economic development andimproving livelihoods, positioning the mechanism as a people-centricinitiative rather than a purely political one, while exploring practicalprojects across multiple sectors.
Key areas identified for trilateral engagement include trade and investmentenhancement, agriculture, digital economy, environmental protection, marinesciences, green infrastructure, culture, education, and people-to-peopleexchanges. Pakistan expressed particular interest in deepening ties inthese domains, viewing the framework as an opportunity to strengthenregional connectivity and share developmental experiences. Theestablishment of a joint working group was announced to implement theunderstandings reached, signaling intent to translate discussions intoconcrete actions.
The objective of this trilateral cooperation remains centered on promotingpeace, development, and prosperity across the region. The joint statementfrom the inaugural meeting highlighted the common aspirations forpeople-centric growth and stressed the need for win-win collaboration.Recent reaffirmations indicate that consultations will persist to achievenew results under this framework, with Pakistan actively seeking positiveand beneficial outcomes for all involved populations.
This mechanism has gained additional prominence through its reference inthe Joint Press Communiqué of the Seventh Round of China-Pakistan ForeignMinisters’ Strategic Dialogue, held in Beijing on January 4, 2026. Bothsides expressed readiness to leverage the China-Bangladesh-Pakistancooperation mechanism alongside other trilaterals to deliver freshoutcomes. The inclusion in this high-profile document reflects growingstrategic convergence and the mechanism’s integration into broaderbilateral priorities between Islamabad and Beijing.
Analysts note that the trilateral initiative emerges against the backdropof shifting dynamics in South Asia, including efforts to diversifydiplomatic and economic engagements. It offers a platform for enhancedconnectivity and investment, potentially complementing existing frameworkslike the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor while addressing regionaldevelopment gaps. The focus on non-political sectors such as health,education, and maritime affairs suggests a pragmatic approach aimed atmutual economic benefits.
Pakistan’s proactive stance aligns with its long-standing emphasis onregional stability and prosperity through multilateral cooperation. Bypushing forward this mechanism, Islamabad seeks to contribute to a moreintegrated and peaceful South Asia. The spokesperson’s remarks indicatesustained momentum, with future consultations expected to build on lastyear’s foundations and produce measurable progress in agreed areas.
The development holds significance for broader regional architecture, as itrepresents a minilateral approach to cooperation amid challenges in largerforums. With principles of inclusivity and mutual respect at its core, themechanism could serve as a model for collaborative initiatives thatprioritize shared growth over confrontation.
Source:https://www.mofa.gov.pk/press-releases/transcript-of-the-press-briefing-by-the-spokesperson-on-thursday-08-january-2026
Tags: Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Trilateral Mechanism, Foreign Office
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