On November 27th, Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) jointly hosted the 6th Forum on China-Pakistan Scientific, Technical and Economic Cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative themed at "Inheriting China-Pakistan Friendship, Creating the Future Together", supported by the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST), the China Embassy in Pakistan, and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Beijing. This Forum, held both online and offline. Attended by Prof. Huang Xiankai, General Secretary of the CPC BTBU Committee; Prof. Wang Qinglin, Deputy D.G. of CAST Department of International Cooperation; H.E. Mr. Moin Ul Haque, Ambassador, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Beijing; Mr. Xie Guoxiang, Minister Counselor of Economic and Commercial Section of China Embassy in Pakistan; Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, President of ECOSF; Prof. Shahid Mahmood Baig, President of PSF; Dr. Talat Shabbir, China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC), ISSI; Prof. Muhammad Akram Shaikh, DG of Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Center, Mr. Lu Xiaopeng, Deputy Director of Beijing International Technology Exchange Center; Mr. Ma Bin, Secretary-General of Overseas Chinese Association of Pakistan; Ms. Zoon Ahmed Khan, Goodwill Ambassador at SCOLAR Network, and more than 200 Chinese and Pakistani experts, scholars and youth students. The opening ceremony was moderated by Prof. Xu Dandan, Vice President of BTBU.

In his opening address, Prof. Huang Xiankai, General Secretary of the CPC BTBU Committee, expressed his warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude for the attendance of all the guests. General Secretary Huang pointed out that BTBU, a high-level research university as one of Beijing’s priority institutions, highly values the exchanges and collaboration with Pakistani universities in a variety of domains, including science and technology, economy and education. Pakistan Study Centre of Science & Technology and Economy of BTBU (BTBU PSC) has become an important think tank platform for China-Pakistan science, technology and economic cooperation after years of development. We are particularly grateful to CAST, BAST, ECOSF, PSF, the embassies of both sides and other domestic and foreign institutions for their support to BTBU’s international exchange platform under the “Belt and Road” Initiative. We are looking forward to more excellent achievement in cooperation.

Wang Qinglin, Deputy D.G., Department of International Cooperation, China Association of Science and Technology, stated in his speech that CAST attaches great importance to sci-tech cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with countries around the world, committing itself to enhancing the mutual communication and trust within the field of sci-tech innovation and promoting the establishment of a global scientific and technological community. In order to propel the exchanges and collaboration between China and the "Belt and Road" initiative countries in the field of sci-tech innovation, CAST launched the Program of International Collaboration Platform for Science and Technology Organizations in Belt and Road Countries in 2016. Since its establishment, BTBU PSC has played an important role in China-Pakistan exchanges, think tank services, and people-to-people exchanges. We are confident that it will achieve more excellent results and play a greater role in the international cooperation of "Belt and Road" initiative. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, at which point bilateral cooperation has been further enhanced in the field of science and technology. We also look forward to deepening cooperation with ECOSF, PSF and other Pakistani institutions to promote the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). At the end of the speech, Deputy D.G. Wang expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese and Pakistani institutions for their support to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Program of International Collaboration Platform for Science and Technology Organizations in Belt and Road Countries.

In his speech, Mr. Xie Guoxiang, Minister Counselor, Economic and Commercial Section, China Embassy in Pakistan, said that this year marks both the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, and this Forum is of great importance in continuing the traditional friendship between the two countries, discussing the prospects of bilateral development in the new era and promoting the bilateral exchanges and collaboration within both fields of technology and economy. The Joint Commission on Science and Technology between the two governments has been held for 18 sessions since 1976, with the 19th session under preparation currently. After establishing a Joint Working Group on Science and Technology last year, the Joint Working Group on IT Industry was also established this year. These two intergovernmental mechanisms for cooperation in science and technology have guided the direction and gathered strength for the two countries to deepen cooperation in sci-tech innovation. Pakistani scientists have been honored by the Chinese government in succession, for example, Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, President of ECOSF, was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award for 2020. CAST, BTBU and PSF, ECOSF, ISSI and other institutions have made outstanding contributions to close bilateral exchanges in technology and humanities and the promotion of sci-tech innovation cooperation between the two sides. In closing, Minister Counselor Xie expressed salute and gratitude towards those contributors.

H.E. Mr. Moin Ul Haque, Ambassador, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Beijing expressed in his speech his gratitude to BTBU and all other organizers for their dedication in organizing this significant event. This Forum is a perfect reflection of the unique friendship between Pakistan and China, the broad consensus between the leaders of two nations, the joint cooperation and development of our people and the common bright future we share. Today, ISSI CPSC and BTBU PSC signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which is regarded as part of our 70th anniversary celebrations. As the CPEC moves towards industrialization and quality development, cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of higher education and science and technology will exert greater influence, and we expect more experts and institutions to work together to promote the development of science, technology and innovation in both countries.

The signing ceremony was held at the Forum for the Memorandum of Academic Cooperation between the BTBU PSC and the ISSI CPSC. The two sides will develop a long-term partnership based on this Memorandum to promote exchanges in the field of academics as well as research within the institutional framework. Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director of CPSC, ISSI, and Dr. Di Yuna, Executive Director of BTBU PSC, signed the Memorandum of Academic Cooperation on behalf of both sides. Dr. Talat Shabbir said that the development of CPEC has promoted the exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples and improved the economic living standard of Pakistan. Today's signing is of great significance, and we look forward to having in-depth cooperation with BTBU in the future. Dr. Di Yuna, reported on the exchange activities, cooperation platforms and education training carried out by the Center in the past six years, and expressed her sincere gratitude to the Pakistani partners for their continuous support and her expectation to continue to further promote China-Pakistan cooperation in the future.

The Keynote session was moderated Prof. Ni Guohua, Dean of BTBU School of Economics. Prof. Manzoor Hussain Soomro, President of ECOSF; Mr. Wang Zihai, President of Pakistan China Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Prof. Shahid Mahmood Baig, President of PSF; Mr. Ma Bin, Secretary-General of Overseas Chinese Association of Pakistan delivered their keynote speeches. President Soomro thanked the Chinese government for awarding him the Chinese Government Friendship Award and promised to continue to promote the cooperation between China and Pakistan and the "Belt and Road" countries in the fields of science and technology, science education and people-to-people exchanges. President of Pakistan China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Wang Zihai, introduced the important role of the Pakistan Center in Qingdao in China-Pakistan economic cooperation and looked forward to more practical cooperation between China and Pakistan in the framework of SCO cooperation. President Baig introduced the long and fruitful cooperation between PSF and Chinese institutions, thanked CAST, BAST and BTBU for the important role they have played in China-Pakistan science and technology cooperation, and looked forward to having more pragmatic cooperation with more institutions. Secretary General Ma Bin introduced the vital work done by the Overseas Chinese Association in Pakistan in areas such as cultural promotion, public welfare activities and youth exchanges, and expressed his expectation that more institutions will work together to develop China-Pakistan public welfare cooperation and enhance China-Pakistan friendship.

The "Belt and Road" Youth Forum was co-moderated by Dr. Han Lu, Deputy Dean of the Department of Business Management, BTBU and Dr. Zhang Lu, Deputy Dean of the Department of Business Management, BTBU. A total of 45 papers were received from 24 universities/institutions, including Tsinghua University, Lanzhou University, China Foreign Affairs University, University of Science and Technology Beijing and Ocean University of China. Following the review by the expert judges, the best papers were picked out and 15 students were invited to present their research at the forum. Later, expert judges including Ms. Zoon Ahmed Khan, Research Fellow at Center for China & Globalization, Goodwill Ambassador at SCOLAR Network; Dr. Xu Jingxuan, Deputy Dean of School of Economics at BTBU, and the Expert Committee provided commented on the presentations of the youth students and presented awards to the winners of outstanding papers.

Prof. Guo Yi, Secretary of the CPC BTBU SIEM Committee, delivered the closing speech. He congratulated the successful convening of the 6th Academic Forum on China-Pakistan Scientific, Technical and Economic Cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative. This Forum provided a platform for experts and scholars from both sides to exchange and cooperate with each other, enhanced the China-Pakistan friendship, and further strengthened the trust between the two countries. Secretary Guo especially thanked the co-organizers for their support, the guests and scholars for their attendance, and the Forum preparation team for their hard work. He was confident that with the strong support from all sectors of society, the BTBU PSC will embrace an even brighter future.

The Forum was also attended by representatives from the COMSATS University China Study Center, BTBU School of International Economics and Management, School of Economics, School of Foreign Languages, Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, as well as representatives of other Chinese and Pakistani government agencies, science and technology organizations, faculty, students, enterprises and media organizations.

The Academic Forum on China-Pakistan Scientific, Technical and Economic Cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative has been successfully held for six sessions. Throughout this Forum, the participating experts actively contributed their thoughts, providing fresh ideas on promoting broader, deeper, fuller and more sustainable China-Pakistan cooperation and further enhancing the exchange and cooperation between BTBU and Pakistani government agencies, scientific and technological organizations, and higher education institutions at all levels. The guests and scholars at the conference spoke highly of the outstanding work undertaken by BTBU in recent years in promoting science, technology and economic cooperation between China and Pakistan. With the support and help from CAST, BAST, Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Pakistani Embassy in China, Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology, PSF, ECOSF and various partners, the BTBU PSC will continue to dedicate itself to promoting the quality development of CPEC and make further contributions to China-Pakistan friendship.