A two-day international conference on “Decade of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC & Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) from Vision to Reality” kicked off Monday to mark the 10-year celebration of CPEC.
Dr. M. Nadeem Javaid, Chief Economist and Executive Project Director of CPEC at the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (PD&SI), welcomed attendees in his opening remarks. “The conference is an opportunity to review CPEC’s achievements and also chart a way forward for the next phase,” he said.
The conference has been organized by the Ministry of PD&SI in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Islamabad.
Ms. Pang Chunxue, Charge d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy, was the chief guest on the occasion. “CPEC truly reflects the concept of BRI through its openness, inclusiveness, and extensive consultation,” she said, highlighting the major achievements over the past decade.
She said that over a decade of joint efforts, Gwadar has made tremendous progress and she shed light on other accomplished projects in the city. According to Pang, “the 1+4” cooperation layout with Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, energy, and industrial cooperation are the main areas of focus.
Over two days, the conference will explore opportunities for the next phase of CPEC, with key policymakers giving overviews and expert speakers presenting research findings. Selected papers will be published in the Pakistan Development Review journal after peer review.
Technical sessions will cover topics like Gwadar’s role, industrial relocation, green technology, regional connectivity, AI, and more. Souvenirs will be awarded to Pakistani and Chinese companies involved in CPEC projects, and a documentary on CPEC will be showcased during the event to mark the 10-year milestone.
