Islamabad:Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Shi Yuanqiang has said Development Initiative (GDI), proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, had become an important platform for promoting inclusive global development and now enjoyed the support of more than 100 countries and international organisations.
Shi was addressing a conference on “China's Global Development Initiative and Pakistan’s 5Es Framework: strategic synergy for Pakistan's economic transformation" organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here Tuesday.
He said China was ready to deepen the alignment between the GDI and Pakistan's development priorities, particularly under the 5Es (exports, e-Pakistan, environment, energy, and equity) framework. He emphasised expanding Pakistan's export-oriented industries, encouraging greater Chinese private investment, strengthening cooperation in agriculture, industry and artificial intelligence, and implementing both major CPEC projects and "small and beautiful" livelihood initiatives.
The Chinese envoy highlighted several Chinese investments in Pakistan's industrial sector, saying they would create thousands of jobs while strengthening industrial cooperation and supporting Pakistan's export-led growth.
Chairperson, SDPI Board of Governors, Shafqat Kakakhel said Pakistan should move beyond viewing international initiatives as diplomatic opportunities and instead translate them into bankable projects, credible institutions and measurable development outcomes. He said the convergence of China's GDI and Pakistan's 5Es framework offered a timely opportunity to drive structural economic transformation under CPEC 2.0.
Earlier, SDPI Research Fellow Dr Khalid Waleed said URAAN Pakistan programme that aims to build a $3 trillion techno-economy by 2047, is aligned to GDI. Former Board of Investment Chairperson Haroon Sharif argued that Pakistan had failed to convert CPEC's infrastructure investments into private sector-led industrial development.
