ISLAMABAD, MAY 7 /DNA/ – The Institute of Regional Studies, as part of Regional Dialogue 2025, hosted a session on “China’s Vision for Modernization: Prospects for Regional Prosperity.” Moderated by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chinese and Pakistani experts explored China’s modernization vision, focusing on digital innovation, green energy leadership, advanced manufacturing, and “new quality productive forces,” and how these could drive sustainable growth, technology partnerships, and stability in South Asia and beyond.
Senator Syed highlighted the significance of China’s peaceful rise and its support for Pakistan during crises, stating, “China has always stood like a rock, solidly supporting Pakistan.” Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, former Finance Minister, lauded China’s “new quality productive forces” strategy emphasizing green, digital, and inclusive development. She praised China’s success in poverty alleviation, advancements in solar and AI technologies, and peaceful foreign policy. Describing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the world’s largest international development platform with over $1 trillion invested across 149 countries, she noted its impact on connectivity. While acknowledging challenges related to governance and economic instability in partner states, she emphasized the potential of China’s model for scalable global growth, urging alignment of BRI with national strategies, promotion of open innovation, and inclusive globalization through cooperation and mutual respect.
Professor Gao Jian argued that China’s vision of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind offers an alternative to the Western modernization model, rooted in harmony, inclusiveness, and shared destiny. He asserted that China’s modernization prioritizes collective well-being, cultural diversity, and peaceful coexistence, offering a viable path for developing nations based on their own histories and realities.
Mr. Haroon Sharif, former Minister of State, and Chairman Board of Investment, emphasized the need for regional thinking, institutional strength, and meritocracy to maximize the BRI’s benefits. He described Pakistan’s economic progress as a gradual journey toward sustainable development, warning of missed opportunities without investment in knowledge and regional cooperation. He commended China’s people-centric development model and highlighted the Global Development Initiative’s focus on harmony, pandemic prevention, and youth empowerment. He stressed that infrastructure is a means to the end of creating dignified economic opportunities for citizens.
Professor Zhang Qingmin highlighted diplomacy’s role in China’s modernization, facilitating global engagement based on peaceful coexistence. Since 1979, China’s foreign policy has prioritized peaceful international relations for sustained economic growth. He noted China’s integration into the global economy through institutions like the World Bank and WTO and its consistent policy of non-aggression. China identifies with the Global South, pursuing ambitious development targets through peaceful engagement and mutual respect.
Mr. Wang Huihua, Managing Director of China Energy International Group, presented China’s renewable energy leadership as a sustainable development model, emphasizing the balance between economic development, sustainability, and cultural and environmental considerations. He affirmed China’s commitment to regional cooperation, advocating for shared values and joint infrastructure development for a more peaceful and prosperous future.
