‘BRI alignment with national strategies crucial for inclusive growth’

Islamabad:Dr Shamshad Akhtar, former Finance Minister, has emphasised the potential of China's model for scalable global growth, urging alignment of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with national strategies, promotion of open innovation and inclusive globalisation through cooperation and mutual respect.

Dr Shamshad was addressing a session on “China’s vision for modernisation: prospects for regional prosperity” organised here by Institute of Regional Studies as part of Regional Dialogue 2025. Dr Shamshad lauded China’s new quality productive forces strategy emphasising green, digital and inclusive development. She praised China’s success in poverty alleviation, advancements in solar and AI technologies and peaceful foreign policy. Describing the BRI as the world’s largest international development platform with over $1 trillion invested across 149 countries, she noted its impact on connectivity while acknowledging challenges related to governance and economic instability in partner states.

Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed highlighted the significance of China's peaceful rise and its support for Pakistan during crises, saying China always stood like a rock, solidly supporting Pakistan.

Prof Gao Jian, Secretary-General, Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies, Shanghai International Studies University, argued that China’s vision of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind offers an alternative to the Western modernisation model, rooted in harmony, inclusiveness and shared destiny. He asserted that China's modernisation prioritises collective well-being, cultural diversity and peaceful coexistence, offering a viable path for developing nations based on their own histories and realities.

Haroon Sharif, former Minister of State, and Chairperson, Board of Investment, emphasised the need for regional thinking, institutional strength and meritocracy to maximise the BRI’s benefits. He described Pakistan's economic progress as a gradual journey toward sustainable development, warning of missed opportunities without investment in knowledge and regional cooperation.