On 5th March 2024, Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), participated as a keynote speaker in a roundtable discussion on "China's Economic Development: Opportunities for Pakistan" organized by China Media Group (Islamabad Studio) held at Marriott Hotel, Islamabad.
During the opening session, Ms. Jianing Du, Director, China Media Group (Islamabad Studio) warmly welcomed all the participants and emphasized the importance of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for Pakistan's economic growth. She further added that CMG is dedicated to facilitating dialogue between China and Pakistan.
Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, in his keynote speech, shed light on the potential benefits of CPEC for Pakistan. He stated that CPEC is a game-changer not only for Pakistan but also for the entire region. He elaborated that this project is not limited to building roads, but it encompasses various other sectors such as infrastructure development, energy cooperation, industrial cooperation, trade and economic zones, agricultural cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges. He further added that CPEC reflects the shared vision of the leadership of China and Pakistan to achieve mutual development and build a community with a shared future.
Dr. Nadeem Jan, Federal Minister for Health, was the chief guest at the event.
The other distinguished speakers, including
• Commodore Imran ul Haque SI(M), Director of Pak-China Study and Research Center, Bahria University, Islamabad
• Dr. Wang Wen, Executive Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China
• Mr. Tahir Farooq, Chief Editor, Daily Ittehad
• Mr. Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmed Khokhar, Ex-Chairman, Federal Excise & Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal
• Ms. Xiang Yang, Director, China Study Centre, National University of Science and Technology (NUST)
• Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor, National Skills University, Islamabad
• Mr. Wang Shengjie, Political Councellor, Embassy of People’s Republic of China
All of them highlighted the significant economic opportunities brought by CPEC and stressed the need for effective implementation and management of the project.
The roundtable discussion was attended by a diverse group of participants, including diplomats, government officials, experts, and media professionals. It was well-received, and it helped in enhancing understanding of CPEC and its potential benefits for Pakistan's economy.