{"id":53055,"date":"2025-10-07T16:22:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T16:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=53055"},"modified":"2025-10-07T16:38:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T16:38:52","slug":"china-pak-action-plan-2025-29-a-framework-for-advancing-cooperation-amb-sohail-cpec-02-to-take-the-partnership-into-advanced-sectors-amb-imran-siddiqui-seminar-with-fudan-u","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/china-pak-action-plan-2025-29-a-framework-for-advancing-cooperation-amb-sohail-cpec-02-to-take-the-partnership-into-advanced-sectors-amb-imran-siddiqui-seminar-with-fudan-u\/","title":{"rendered":"China\u2013Pak Action Plan (2025\u201329) : A framework for Advancing Cooperation : Amb Sohail | CPEC 02 to take the Partnership into Advanced Sectors : Amb Imran Siddiqui @ Seminar with Fudan University"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"ISSI hosts International Seminar on \u201cPakistan\u2013China Relations: Regional Stability and Economic Prosperity\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

ISLAMABAD: The China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with the Pakistan Study Centre at Fudan University, hosted an International Seminar on \u201cPakistan\u2013China Relations: Regional Stability and Economic Prosperity\u201d.<\/p>\n

Director General ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his welcome remarks, reaffirmed that Pakistan\u2013China relations remain the \u201ccornerstone\u201d of Pakistan\u2019s foreign policy. He noted that the enduring mutual respect, strategic mutual trust, and mutual support on each other\u2019s issues of core interest have enabled this partnership to thrive despite global and regional uncertainties.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored that CPEC has transformed Pakistan\u2019s development landscape and serves as a catalyst for regional connectivity. He emphasized the importance of the recently agreed China\u2013Pakistan Action Plan (2025\u20132029) as a framework for advancing cooperation in technology, digital economy, green development, and industrial upgrading.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood highlighted China\u2019s peaceful rise as a consequential development of our times and reiterated Pakistan\u2019s strong support for President Xi Jinping\u2019s global initiatives \u2014 GDI, GSI, GCI, and GGI. He added that regional countries should consider how these initiatives could be leveraged to address the multiple deficits of development, security, and regional cooperation architecture in South Asia.<\/p>\n

\"\"He further underscored the importance of reimagining the architecture of regional economic cooperation and also proposed establishing a \u2018China-South Asia Summit\u2019 process on the analogy of China-Central Asia and China-GCC format. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underlined that the forthcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2026 offers a historic opportunity to set an ambitious, forward-looking vision for Pakistan\u2013China relations in both bilateral and regional dimensions.<\/p>\n

The Chief Guest, Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, Additional Foreign Secretary (Asia Pacific),<\/strong> Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined the resilience and strategic significance of the Pakistan\u2013China partnership, describing it as a relationship anchored in trust, mutual support, and shared vision. He emphasized that Pakistan\u2013China cooperation had withstood global and regional challenges and continued to expand into new domains.<\/p>\n

Ambassador Imran Siddiqui particularly highlighted the synergy between CPEC and Pakistan\u2019s Economic Transformation Plan\u2013URAAN, noting that this alignment would unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.<\/p>\n

He stressed that the second phase of CPEC would not only strengthen traditional infrastructure and energy projects but also drive forward-looking cooperation in advanced sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and digital innovation, thereby preparing both countries to meet the demands of the 21st century economy.<\/p>\n

He reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s firm support for China\u2019s global initiatives and expressed confidence that the partnership would remain a cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the region.<\/p>\n

The first working session on \u201cSecurity Cooperation for Regional Stability\u201d was chaired by Ambassador Masood Khalid. During the session, Dr. Zahir Kazmi, Advisor SPD, described security cooperation as a cornerstone of stability and proposed practical measures such as maritime safety networks and CPEC resilience exercises. Prof.<\/p>\n

Wang Zhen, Deputy Director, Institute of International Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Science (SASS),<\/strong> highlighted the global significance of this cooperation, noting that education, youth empowerment, and poverty reduction must complement military measures.<\/p>\n

Prof. Huang Yunsong, Associate Dean, School of International Studies & Deputy Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, Sichuan University<\/strong>, presented the China\u2013Pakistan Action Plan as a practical blueprint for institutionalized cooperation while underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties, scholarships, and training programmes.<\/p>\n

Dr. Asma Rashid,<\/strong> Lecturer Department of Politics and International Relations, International Islamic University, analyzed the evolving strategic culture underpinning bilateral ties, while<\/p>\n

Dr. Ma Zheng, Special Associate Research Fellow, School of International Relations, Sun Yat-sen University,<\/strong> pointed to renewed security challenges from TTP and Baloch militants, calling for joint platforms for dialogue and threat assessments.<\/p>\n

\"\"The second working session on \u201cEconomic Cooperation for Regional Prosperity\u201d was chaired by Ambassador Naghmana Hashmi.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan,<\/strong> Principal & Dean, Department of Economics, School of Social Sciences & Humanities (S3H), NUST, proposed establishing a new organization SAECO Plus (China) and also suggested transforming CPEC into a truly regional initiative by expanding outreach to Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran, and Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n

Dr. Hassan Daud Butt,<\/strong> Senior Associate Professor, Bahria University, emphasized regional integration through digital connectivity, green infrastructure, and renewable energy.<\/p>\n

From the Chinese side, Dr. Wang Shida,<\/strong> Acting Director, Institute for South Asian Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), underscored industrial cooperation in electronics, agriculture, and manufacturing, while Prof. Zhang Jiegen, Associate Professor & Director, Pakistan Study Centre, Fudan University, emphasized Pakistan\u2019s transition from a geo-security to a geo-economic paradigm with CPEC as the enabler.<\/p>\n

Dr. Xie Chao,<\/strong> Associate Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Fudan University, called for CPEC 2.0 to be open and inclusive, highlighting the importance of \u201csmall and beautiful projects\u201d that directly benefit local communities.<\/p>\n

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr. Talat Shabbir,<\/strong> Director CPSC, welcomed the participants and emphasized the time-tested and all-weather nature of Pakistan\u2013China relations. He highlighted CPEC as a central pillar of cooperation that strengthens Pakistan\u2019s economic foundations, fosters regional connectivity, and contributes to shared prosperity.<\/p>\n

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood,<\/strong> Chairman BoG ISSI, reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s strong support for partnership with China in advancing regional stability and economic cooperation.<\/p>\n

The seminar brought together eminent diplomats, scholars, and practitioners from Pakistan and China for an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and their regional implications.<\/p>\n

Pakistan in the World \u2013 September 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n