BEIJING: The 10th Forum on Science, Technology and Economic Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) concluded on Nov. 29, charting a collaborative path forward in digital trade and sustainable development. The event, hosted by Beijing Technology and Business University (BTBU), gathered over 60 Chinese and international experts, scholars, and postgraduate students, underscoring the BRI’s evolving focus on innovation-driven connectivity.
Centered on the theme of digital trade cooperation, the forum facilitated in-depth exchanges on aligning technological advancement with economic integration. A key session featured 11 scholars and graduate students presenting pioneering research on the digital trade framework, green economic transition, and evolving global value chains under the BRI. In recognition of academic excellence, a series of awards were presented following a rigorous review. Among the honorees was Dr. Qasim Raza Khan, a Pakistani postdoctoral researcher at Nanjing Normal University, who received a second prize for his work.
The strategic role of China-Pakistan collaboration was a prominent focus. In a keynote address, Dr. Majid Khan, Associate Professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing and Vice President of the Pakistan-China Commerce Alliance International (PCCAI), hailed the forum’s decade-long impact. “This platform has become instrumental in fostering science, technology, and people-to-people exchanges within the BRI,” Dr. Khan stated. He further emphasized his commitment to deepening practical research cooperation with BTBU to contribute tangibly to industrial and digital development along the Belt and Road.
The discussions underscored the importance of institutionalized platforms to sustain cooperation. BTBU showcased its established multi-tiered BRI cooperation system, which includes dedicated entities such as the Pakistan Study Center of Science & Technology and Economy and the Belt and Road Joint Training Center. These platforms are designed to advance high-level academic dialogue and foster the interdisciplinary talent required for the initiative.
By integrating academic insight with strategic partnership, the forum reinforced a shared commitment to leveraging digital innovation and collaborative research. Participants agreed that such exchanges are vital for building a more integrated, green and resilient economic future for all BRI partners. –Agencies
