BRI ideal platform to tackle emerging int'l, regional challenges: experts

An international conference of think tanks here on Thursday said that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ideal platform to tackle emerging international and regional challenges, adding that a broader approach is much better than an individual approach for the world.

Different think tanks from China and Pakistan participated in the two-day international conference on Belt and Road Initiative in the Changing Regional Dynamics hosted by the China-Pakistan Study Center of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

On the occasion, professor of Global Politics and International Relations at the International Islamic University Islamabad Muhammad Khan said that BRI is solving economic as well as strategic and security issues by providing connectivity because it is the best recipe for the attainment of a win-win situation.

"The BRI is connecting the world, linking the poor with the rich and is acting as a ladder in world development. Major stakes of South Asia and Central Asia have been naturally connected with the BRI because it is creating plenty of opportunities for poor people and developing countries," said Khan.

ISSI Director-General Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told the seminar that China is playing a vital role in maintaining peace and stability amid the changing regional dynamics in South Asia and the cooperation under the BRI is appearing crucial to handle the changing regional security dynamics.

"The BRI has become very crucial in the region (South Asia) which has economic vitality, substantial infrastructure deficit and strategic location. China has already expanded its cooperation with smaller countries, which has already left positive impacts on regional trade, cross-border investment and development," said the director-general.

Wang Shida, an expert from the Beijing-based China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that South Asia is facing several challenges with obvious uncertainties due to security issues and political conflicts, but those can be sorted out if stakeholders come at one platform like the BRI and share their interests for win-win cooperation.

Wang highlighted the importance of the China-Pakistan relations and cooperation under the BRI and termed the relations between the two sides as a cornerstone for promoting stability in South Asia.

During the event, the China-Pakistan Study Center announced to make the dialogue between both sides' think tanks regularly so as to bring outcomes in the form of concrete suggestions and recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders for the bilateral relations and cooperation.