## China, Bangladesh, Pakistan Forge Trilateral Cooperation Framework

A recent trilateral meeting involving China, Bangladesh, and Pakistan yielded highly productive outcomes across four key dimensions, stated Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a routine press briefing on Monday. According to the Ministry, representatives from the three nations conducted extensive discussions on advancing trilateral cooperation.

The parties concurred on the necessity to propel cooperation grounded in the principles of good-neighborliness, equality, mutual trust, openness, inclusiveness, common development, and mutual benefit. The primary objective of the China-Bangladesh-Pakistan trilateral initiative is to foster economic development and enhance the livelihoods of their respective populations.

Specific areas identified for collaborative exploration and project implementation include industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, culture, and youth engagement. To ensure concrete progress, the three sides agreed to establish a dedicated working group tasked with following up on and executing the understandings achieved during the meeting.

Emphasizing the nature of their collaboration, the participants asserted that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres strictly to genuine multilateralism and open regionalism, affirming it is not directed against any third party. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who chaired the meeting, articulated China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind with its neighboring countries. "Cooperation among China, Pakistan and Bangladesh aligns with the common interests of the three peoples, and can contribute to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity,” Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong stated.

Sun Weidong further highlighted the relationships, noting that both Bangladesh and Pakistan are "good neighbors, good friends, and good partners of China, and important partners in high quality Belt and Road cooperation.” He added, "As significant members of the Global South and key countries in the region, all three countries face the mission of national revitalization and modernization, and all require a peaceful and stable environment.” This inaugural China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary-level meeting took place on June 19 in Kunming.

The meeting was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique, and Pakistani Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. Pakistani Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the initial phase of the discussions via video link.