3- Day International Conference on ‘’Significance of the Belt & Road Initiative in Regional Connectivity’’ at the University of Punjab, Lahore is going to be held from 6th -8th July 2022.
The conference has been jointly organized by the Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore & Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan.
The University of Punjab is the largest and the oldest seat of higher learning in Pakistan, it is one of the most prestigious universities in the country as well. On account of its highly qualified and internationalized faculty, the university and its departments are nationally and internationally recognized.
The Regional Integration Center, University of Punjab, Lahore in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan, is organizing a 3-day International Conference on, “The Significance of the Belt and Road Initiative in Regional Connectivity” at the University of Punjab, Lahore on 6th, 7th, and 8th July 2022.
Panellists from 13 countries including the Eurasian region, BRI partner countries, and Pakistan will be visiting Lahore for participating in the conference. The conference will address various themes pertaining to the importance of Belt and road connectivity by engaging experts in various sessions, dialogues and panel discussions.
The Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) is referred to as a game-changer and one of the most comprehensive global undertakings attempted by any state in the 21st century. The outline of the project alone encompasses a comprehensive interconnectivity framework that only engages state parties but entire regions into a social, technological, economic and communicational prism.
In this project, state parties not only gain an opportunity to bridge outstanding gaps in their interactions but also allows interregional connectivity towards a shared socioeconomic enterprise among participating entities. For Belt and Road Initiative to succeed both as a theoretical intellectual enterprise and as a practical series of accomplished projects, there needs to be a comprehensive academic discourse in order to dissect policy options and prospective challenges.
Pakistan, under its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has displayed proficiency and pace of accomplishing basic targets set out by both states with respect to intended dividends. Discussing major issues, prospective benefits and impending challenges are a priority between principal and cooperating state parties in examining avenues of exploration for a clear future towards regional connectivity. BRI, in its initial phases, has taken South Asia-Central Asia connectivity to be the main feature and a test case. The objective would be to explore the following realms:
- Socioeconomic Connectivity through strategic dialogue
- Geopolitical and Geostrategic challenges to BRI partners
- Regional Security Architecture in a Belt and Road Environment
- Maritime Spectrum and future prospects
- A sustainability framework for partner states through internal stabilization
- Economic Connectivity and Business Potential for partner states
The conference will establish an extensive link between regional stakeholders and also enhance people-to-people contacts for the understanding significance of regional cooperation through BRI. It will also prove to be a great avenue to formulate a future road map under BRI for the legal framework. Panellists and experts from the Eurasian region, BRI partner countries and Pakistan have been participating in the conference.
The 3-day international conference has been filled with great opportunities and activities for all participants, guest speakers, and foreign experts. Filed visits, networking, and other special activities have been planned for the foreign guest speakers in order to familiarize them with the culture and tradition of Pakistan for soft power projection. The conference will prove to be the biggest event of the year for enhancing people-to-people contacts and academic ties among BRI partner states and institutions.
The conference has been organized in collaboration with the Department of History & Pakistan Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Department of Political Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Bahçeşehir Cyprus University, Turkiye & Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, Communication University of China, Beijing, China.
By: Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director, Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future, Communication University of China, Beijing, China & Dr. Fouzia Hadi Ali, Director, Regional Integration Center, University of the Punjab, Lahore.
