Pakistan and China Launch Sister City Partnership

Pakistan and China have agreed on a new sister city partnership between Changsha, the capital of China’s Hunan Province, and an upcoming city in Pakistan. The move is being hailed as a milestone in strengthening cultural, scientific, and economic cooperation under the broader Pakistan–China friendship and CPEC framework.

Federal Minister for Planning, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary, announced the development during his visit to Changsha, the historic birthplace of Mao Zedong, where he attended the Opening Ceremony of the Beidou Summit and Forum as the chief guest.

Highlighting Pakistan’s growing space ambitions, Minister Iqbal noted that the country has launched two satellites from China in the last two years and is preparing to send its first astronaut to space by next year, with long-term plans that include a future moon mission.

The partnership is part of broader cooperation under the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) and reflects Pakistan’s vision of advancing its role in technology, scientific research, and cultural collaboration with China.

This new city-to-city collaboration is expected to deepen bilateral ties, showcasing Pakistan’s strategy to pursue economic revival and global integration through innovation and long-term partnerships.