CPEC: China-Pakistan Study Centre launched special edition of flagship Pivot Magazine

Islamabad: The China-Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) launched a special edition of its flagship Pivot Magazine.

This edition, titled “10 Years of CPEC; Unlocking Pakistan’s Potential and Future Prospects,” commemorates the achievements of the two nations during the initial phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) while countering negative narratives against the initiative.

During the launch ceremony, Director General of ISSI, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood (retd), expressed the significance of this edition in illuminating the decade-long journey of collaboration between Pakistan and China.

He acknowledged the collaborative efforts with the Chinese Embassy in compiling the publication and highlighted CPEC’s transformative impact, generating over 200,000 jobs and completing 30 energy and infrastructure projects.

Ambassador Mahmood emphasized the evolution of CPEC into a tangible reality, with the second phase focusing on energy mining, agriculture, e-commerce, and connectivity initiatives. He underscored the strategic importance of CPEC, not only fostering economic growth but also enhancing regional coordination.

Head of CPSC, ISSI, and Chief Editor of Pivot, Dr. Talat Shabbir, outlined the publication’s focus on the chronological achievements of Pakistan and China under CPEC.

He emphasized CPEC’s role as a game-changer, evolving from an infrastructure initiative to a multisectoral enterprise of economic development, fostering cross-border collaboration and community integration.

Former Pakistani envoy to China, Ambassador Masood Khalid, acknowledged CPEC’s positive impact on Pakistan’s economic security, spanning agriculture, science, technology, and social development. He called for a harmonized approach to ensure the smooth implementation of CPEC, recognizing the need for objective progress assessment and preparation for emerging challenges.

Irfan Shahzad, Executive Director of Euroasian Century Institute, commended the Pivot special edition as a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners. He encouraged future reflections on the next ten years of CPEC.

Former Pakistani Ambassador to China, Naghmana Hashmi, highlighted the special edition’s positive narrative against negative propaganda, emphasizing CPEC’s role in Gwadar Port’s development and its potential to boost socioeconomic development in the country.

Bao Zhong, Acting Deputy Head of Mission at the Chinese Embassy, credited the success of CPEC to the leadership of both countries and expressed confidence in its future prospects. She emphasized CPEC as a corridor of growth, livelihoods, green development, and openness.

Mohammad Aamir Khan, Director General China at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlined CPEC’s contributions to Pak-China friendship, emphasizing its role in infrastructure development and electricity generation. He envisioned CPEC evolving into a corridor of growth, livelihoods, green cooperation, and innovations.

Ambassador Khalid Mehmood, Chairman of ISSI BoG, praised Pivot magazine for promoting exemplary development through CPEC. He highlighted the comprehensive nature of this special edition, considering CPEC as the jewel in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) crown, playing a crucial role in the development of other BRI projects.