In the corridors of Islamabad’s Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI), a quiet revolution is underway—one that could redefine South Asia’s economic destiny. Yesterday, the Fourth Pakistan-China Think Tank Forum, co-hosted with Beijing’s China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), convened elite minds from both nations to dissect the “Strategic and Practical Cooperation in a Shifting International and Regional Landscape.” Led by Dr. Hu Shisheng of CICIR and Ambassador Sohail Mahmood of ISSI, this gathering wasn’t mere diplomacy; it was a blueprint for turbocharging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-II into a beacon of industrialization, green innovation, and regional resilience.
Forget the headlines of geopolitical jitters—from Ukraine’s shadows to Middle East flares—this forum spotlighted an optimistic pivot: How the ironclad Pakistan-China bond can weather global storms while igniting shared prosperity. With the recent Pakistan-China Action Plan 2025-29 inked and CPEC’s second phase officially launched, experts here envisioned a future where tech-savvy factories, solar-powered farms, and skilled workforces propel both nations toward centennial milestones—Pakistan’s 2047 vision and China’s 2049 dream. As Ambassador Mahmood declared, CPEC transcends bricks and mortar; it’s a socio-economic metamorphosis. In a world of volatility, this partnership isn’t just stable—it’s a strategic superpower.
The Brain Trust Blueprint: From Dialogue to Deliverables
Picture a room buzzing with diplomats, scholars, and policymakers—Chinese experts under Dr. Hu’s banner clashing ideas with Pakistani stalwarts like Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. This isn’t the first rodeo; the third forum in Beijing (July 2023) dissected CPEC’s “Decade of Review and Outlook.” Now, in Islamabad, the focus sharpened on actionable synergies, birthing a roadmap that’s equal parts visionary and pragmatic.
At its core: CPEC Phase-II’s pillars—industrialization, tech transfers, green energy, agri-modernization, and HR upskilling. Ambassador Mahmood, ISSI’s DG, framed it as an “intellectual and policy platform” under CPEC’s Joint Working Group on International Cooperation. No more silos; think knowledge hubs fostering vocational bootcamps and AI-driven agriculture. The Action Plan 2025-29? A game-changer, demanding timelines for tangible wins like export-oriented zones and renewable grids. Dr. Hu echoed this, hailing the duo’s resilience amid Afghanistan’s flux and Eurasian realignments, positioning CPEC as South Asia’s “stabilizing force.”
Mr. Shi Yuanqiang, China’s Deputy Head of Mission in Islamabad, amplified the stakes: Five pillars—political trust, economic ties, people-first growth, security, and multilateral harmony—underpin a “Closer Community of Shared Future.” Think tanks? They’re the architects, countering misperceptions with research that fuels projects like Gwadar’s deep-sea port or Thar coal-to-clean energy pivots. Ambassador Siddiqui added heft, urging alignment of China’s Global Initiatives (Development, Security, Civilization, Governance) with Pakistan’s regional ambitions—think BRI extensions knitting South-South corridors.
In an era of deglobalization, these forums aren’t reactive; they’re proactive engines for a multipolar Asia where Pakistan leverages its demographic dividend (220 million strong) and geography as a trade nexus.
Phase-II Spotlight: Green Tech and Industrial Firepower
Diving deeper, the working sessions—moderated by ISSI’s Dr. Talat Shabbir—unveiled CPEC 2.0’s green heartbeat. Dr. Wang Shida of CICIR zeroed in on “practical priorities”: Military collab for stability, industrial clusters for jobs, and eco-friendly pacts to slash emissions. Imagine Punjab’s fields blooming with drone-irrigated, climate-resilient crops, or Sindh’s solar farms powering a million homes— all bankrolled by Sino-Pak innovation labs.
Ambassador Masood Khalid mapped the macro shifts: Asia’s rise, U.S.-China frictions, and Russia’s pivot creating “strategic space” for Eurasian hubs. CPEC? The catalyst, morphing Pakistan from aid recipient to export powerhouse. Mr. Zhang Shujian dissected South Asia’s tinderbox—instability in neighbors, border frictions—but spotlighted CPEC’s connective tissue: Rail links to Central Asia, fiber optics for digital silk roads. Ambassador Moin ul Haque called it a “force for peace,” tying Afghanistan’s rehab to green dev.
Dr. Hassan Daud Butt grounded it in wins: Energy parks quenching Pakistan’s blackouts, infra boosting GDP by 2-3% annually, trade hitting $20B. Yet, the forum’s edge? Harnessing Pakistan’s youth bulge for “people-centered” gains—exchange programs, scholarships, cultural bridges. As Dr. Shabbir noted in intros, amid climate chaos and tech disruptions, this partnership is “regional stability’s cornerstone.”
| CPEC Phase-II Pillars | Key Focus | Projected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Industrialization | Special Economic Zones, tech parks | 2M jobs, $10B FDI by 2030 |
| Green Transition | Renewables, carbon credits | 30% emission cut, energy security |
| Agri Modernization | Precision farming, supply chains | 20% yield boost, food sovereignty |
| HR Development | Vocational training, scholarships | 1M skilled workers annually |
| Regional Connectivity | BRI extensions, digital corridors | Trade volume up 50% with neighbors |
A Timeless Bond, Future-Proofed: 75 Years and Beyond
As Ambassador Khalid Mehmood wrapped with a vote of thanks, the refrain rang clear: Trust as the bedrock, CPEC as the accelerator. Looking to 2026’s 75th diplomatic anniversary, the duo eyes a “forward-looking vision”—tech leaps, industrial surges, connectivity webs for shared prosperity. In Dr. Hu’s words, amid global “turbulence,” this alliance endures as a “global relevance” model.
The forum’s genius? Elevating think tanks from advisors to co-pilots, ensuring Phase-II delivers amid headwinds like protectionism or supply snarls. Participants left buoyed, vowing sustained dialogues to “counter misperceptions” and amplify voices—like those from April’s ISSI roundtable on centrality of China in Pakistan’s policy. It’s a narrative of empowerment: Pakistan, via CPEC, isn’t peripheral—it’s pivotal in Asia’s green renaissance.
For stakeholders eyeing “CPEC Phase 2 updates” or “Pakistan China economic corridor 2025,” this forum signals momentum. As global orders fracture, the Sino-Pak axis stands firm—proving strategic smarts can seed sustainable booms.
