XIZANG, China: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik met Vice Chairman of the People’s Government of the Xizang Autonomous Region, Xu Zitao, on the sidelines of the 5th China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum, where the two sides discussed expanding cooperation in climate action, environmental protection and sustainable development.
Vice Chairman Xu Zitao welcomed the Pakistani delegation and briefed them on Xizang’s history, geography, socio-economic progress and cultural heritage. He highlighted the region’s development model, which integrates economic growth with ecological conservation and environmental protection.
He said Xizang has witnessed significant socio-economic transformation over recent decades, with notable improvements in public welfare, infrastructure and regional development. He added that environmental conservation remains at the core of the region’s development strategy, noting that Xizang is home to 47 national parks, where development projects are implemented while preserving its unique ecological landscape.
The vice chairman also highlighted the region’s rich cultural and religious diversity, including the historical presence of a small Muslim community of Kashmiri origin.
Dr. Musadik Malik thanked the vice chairman for his warm hospitality and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Pakistan and China. He said both countries continue to strengthen cooperation across a broad range of sectors.
The two sides explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in climate change mitigation, environmental protection, scientific research, innovation, biodiversity conservation, mountain ecosystem management and sustainable development.
The minister noted that Pakistan and Xizang share similar mountainous ecosystems and ecological challenges, making knowledge sharing, joint research and institutional partnerships mutually beneficial.
The discussion also covered traditional knowledge systems, including Tibetan medicine. Both sides observed that several traditional medicinal practices in Xizang are also found in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, creating opportunities for academic and scientific collaboration.
Concluding the meeting, Dr. Musadik Malik reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening climate and environmental cooperation with China, expressing confidence that deeper collaboration in climate action, scientific research and ecological conservation would further reinforce the longstanding friendship between the two countries.
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