Lahore (TDI): A first‑of‑its‑kind virtual symposium on China‑Pakistan relations was co-organized by Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) and the Center of Research and Innovation in Maritime Affairs (CRIMA) at Minhaj University Lahore (MUL), on Thursday.
The symposium brought together academics, scholars, practitioners, business professionals, and ambassadors from Pakistan and China who shared insights on the potential afforded by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The broader theme of the symposium was “BRI and CPEC: Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Development,” and it took place at the Spiritual Center of Minhaj University Lahore while speakers from across Pakistan and China joined virtually.
The symposium was moderated by the Assistant Director of CRIMA, Dr. Waqasia Naeem. A diverse panel of 11 speakers included:
- Professor Dr. Mehmood Shazad, Vice Chancellor of Minhaj University
- Dr. Muhammad Ishfaq, Director CRIMA
- Dr. Farhat Asif, President of IPDS
- Ambassador Masood Khalid, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to China,
- Dr. Wang Li, Professor Shiliang School of Law, Changzhou University, China
- Dr. Wang Fangyan, Qingdao Agricultural University
- Raja Amer Iqbal, Ex-chairman, All Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry Committee on CPEC
- Prof. Dr. Guoyaling, Director Pakistan Research Center, Hebei Normal University, China
- Dr. Samina Sabir, Director Kashmir Institute of Economics
- Prof. Tang Jun, Director Pakistan Research Center, Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts & Sciences, China
Talks and discussion focused on people-to-people connectivity, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration, and how CPEC has multiplied the opportunities for sustainable development.
Key topics included infrastructure development, maritime cooperation, industrial expansion, environmental sustainability and the role of innovation and human capital in maximizing benefits from large‑scale initiatives like the BRI and CPEC.
More than 800 participants attended the symposium both virtually and on campus. “The symposium marked a significant step in strengthening cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and the spirit of Pakistan–China friendship,” CRIMA said in a post on LinkedIn.
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