The Joint Working Group (JWG) on Science and Technology, which is part of the CPEC’s Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), conducted its second meeting via a video connection to discuss science and technology cooperation.
The conference was co-chaired by Humaira Ahmed, Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Dai Gang, Director-General of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology’s International Cooperation Department.
The JWG meeting said that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners who would work together to strengthen STI cooperation and give sci-tech assistance for the construction of CPEC. Both parties emphasized the importance of STI cooperation as a central aspect of both nations’ social and economic growth.
The CPEC Authority’s Executive Director complimented the development of the CPEC projects and expressed optimism that the discussions at today’s meeting will result in the start of certain science and technology initiatives. The JWG complimented the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the HEC for their collaborative efforts in establishing the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad.
It also recognized the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) for their achievements in STEM education, the China-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor, people-to-people interactions, and science and technology collaboration. The Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) and the Chinese Association of Science and Technology (CAST) were also commended on the development of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for mutual recognition of engineers.
The JWG decided to support the Special Technology Zone Authority (STZA) in the development of Special Technology Zones across Pakistan, as well as other programs aimed at developing the knowledge ecosystem, such as STI policymaker training and capacity building, incubation programs, knowledge exchange events, and so on.
