Saud Faisal Malik
ISLAMABAD
The China-South Asian Forum, here on Friday, called for stronger regional cooperation, economic connectivity and inclusive development to accelerate poverty reduction and promote shared prosperity.
The call was made by senior government officials, diplomats and development experts from China and Pakistan at the 2026 China South Asia Forum.
The forum, held under the theme “Creating Development Opportunities for Common Prosperity,” was organized by the China International Communications Group (CICG) in collaboration with the Understanding China Forum.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani stressed the need for investment in education, skills development, employment and social protection to achieve sustainable poverty reduction.
He highlighted the URAAN Pakistan initiative and appreciating China’s support for Pakistan’s socioeconomic development.
On the occasion, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong termed poverty alleviation a shared global responsibility and reaffirmed China’s commitment to development cooperation with Pakistan and other Global South countries.
Highlighting CPEC’s contribution to Pakistan’s economy, he said the project had attracted US$ 25.9 billion in direct investment, added over 8,000 megawatts of power generation capacity and created more than 260,000 jobs.
He said CPEC 2.0 would expand cooperation in agriculture, industry and other productive sectors.
Addressing the forum, CICG Vice President Yu Tao highlighted China’s poverty alleviation experience and called for stronger cooperation with South Asian countries through joint projects, institutional exchanges and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and smart agriculture.
Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on China Affairs and President of the Understanding China Forum, Dr. Zafar Uddin Mahmood emphasized that China’s poverty alleviation experience offered valuable lessons for developing countries.
He stressed the importance of combining economic growth with effective governance, institutional reforms, education, healthcare and employment opportunities to achieve sustainable development.
The forum also featured the presentation of Chinese publications on governance and poverty alleviation, including Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (Volumes II and V) and Up and Out of Poverty.
Meanwhile, a report on International Public Opinions on the Achievements, Philosophy, and Experience of China’s Poverty Alleviation, was presented by Qiao Zhenqi, Director of New Media Operations at the CICG Center for Europe and Asia.
Following the opening proceedings, two thematic sessions were held to examine poverty reduction practices, inclusive development, economic transformation and regional cooperation. Both sessions were moderated by Hassan Daud Butt, Executive Director of the Understanding China Forum.
The first session, titled “Poverty Reduction Practices and Inclusive Development,” featured Dr. Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative of UN Women Pakistan, and Liu Yonggang, Assistant CEO and Chief Representative in Pakistan of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited.
The session focused on sustainable poverty alleviation, inclusive economic policies, social protection, women’s economic empowerment and employment generation. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening institutions, expanding access to education and skills development, and ensuring that economic growth benefits vulnerable communities.
