Jiang Zaidong lauds Pakistan for embracing GDI

ISLAMABAD: The curtain raiser ceremony of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) was held at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) here on Wednesday

The event was hosted by Romina Khurshid Alam, convener of Pakistan-China Parliamentary Friendship Group and coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change. It was attended by Jiang Zaidong, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan, and Junaid Anwar, federal minister for Maritime Affairs, as chief guest. The event drew participation from parliamentarians, diplomats, academics, youth leaders and civil society representatives.

Junaid emphasized the strategic relevance of the GDI to Pakistan’s maritime economy and regional connectivity, particularly within the broader framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Jiang Zaidong lauded Pakistan’s leadership in embracing the GDI at the legislative level, commending its efforts to deepen parliamentary cooperation and foster shared prosperity under the guiding principles of mutual respect and development.

In her address, Romina Khurshid highlighted the GDI’s alignment with Pakistan’s national development vision, particularly in advancing inclusive growth, climate resilience and South–South cooperation. Recalling the launch of the GDI by President Xi Jinping at the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, she underscored Pakistan’s strong commitment to institutionalizing the initiative through parliamentary processes and people-centric policymaking.

Shakeel Ramey, executive director of Pakistan Institute of Peace and Policy Research (PIPRA), and ambassador (retd) Maj Gen Dr Raza Muhammad delivered insightful briefings on the global relevance and transformative potential of the GDI as a platform for inclusive, sustainable development.

The session was attended by Members of National Assembly including Mehmood Bashir Virk, Shahbaz Babar, Fazal Ali Shah, Khursheed Ahmed Junejo, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, Sehar Kamran, Pullain Baloch, Farah Naz Akbar, Zeb Jaffar and Saba Sadiq. The event was also attended by diplomatic representatives from Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

The ceremony concluded with a reaffirmation of Pakistan’s commitment to integrating the GDI framework into its national development agenda through sustained parliamentary engagement and future-focused initiatives.