Islamabad (Pakistan News): Pakistan and China have formally activated the Joint Border Commission, with its first meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.
The meeting was co-chaired by Li Ya, Deputy Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bilal Mahmood Chaudhry, Director General for China Affairs at Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
According to the Foreign Office, the commission will provide a coordination platform for border management, trade, joint surveys and promoting people-to-people contacts. The commission was established under the border management agreement reached between Pakistan and China in 2013 and has now been made operational.
Through the commission, cooperation will be carried out on maintaining border markers, managing cross-border facilities, joint assessments and other practical matters.
According to officials, the initiative will further strengthen mutual cooperation on matters related to movement and trade through the Khunjerab Pass, as well as issues concerning the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Pakistan and China said the new commission was not established to resolve any border dispute, but to better manage the already demarcated shared border and address practical matters.