Ambassador addresses B&R Forum on International Innovation

December 07,2017

H.E. Mr. Masood Khalid, Ambassador of Pakistan, addressed the Belt and Road International Innovation Forum organized by the 21^st Century Business Herald newspaper.
In his keynote speech at the Forum, the Ambassador noted that the Belt and Road’s expansive connectivity goals encompass policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people connectivity.
The Ambassador said that seen in this broad framework of connectivity and cooperation, the BRI itself represents an innovative approach toward economic development. At the forefront of this new model of interstate collaboration is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the flagship project of the BRI.
Many projects under CPEC have been launched and work is going on smoothly, the Ambassador noted. Furthermore, Pakistan’s economy is making a turnaround, with improving economic indicators and steadily increasing access to high-quality infrastructure.
“We have all witnessed China’s dramatic transformation over the past few decades to become a leading innovator in the world,” the Ambassador noted, adding that “We are confident that the culture of scholarship and mutual learning that has characterized China’s emergence as a technology powerhouse would also be reflected in the Belt and Road.”
The Ambassador affirmed that CPEC would act as a catalyst to unlock the untapped potential of the people of Pakistan, who were ready to make contributions toward a better future for all mankind.
The event was also attended by high-level representatives of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the Silk Road Fund, China-Africa Development Fund and Asian International Contractors’ Association, among others.