Symposium: Centennial Goals of China; Learning from the past, planning for the future
China Study Center, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), hosted a symposium titled “Centennial goals of China; Learning from the past, planning for the future” on September 29th, 2021. Rector, CUI, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal, greeted the worthy guests and dignitaries, and specified how Pakistan has continuously followed the strategy of maintaining respectable relationships with China, and its plans on strengthening these ties further.
In a video, message, H.E. Ambassador Nong Rong, showed appreciation for organizing such productive symposium, He shared how China has efficiently accomplished to attain its primary centennial goal “to build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects” and has empowered 1.4 billion people through eradicating poverty, and is now trooping towards its second centennial goal that is “to build a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious”.
The chief guest, Eng. Dr. Akram Sheikh (HI), former Federal Minister/Deputy Chairman planning commission, highlighted the vital matters Pakistan is facing nowadays that can be enhanced through streamlining an appropriate track for the nation, as only then we can have a prosperous society. He highlighted the role that educational organizations such as universities can play in taking up projects for the advancement of our nation. He concluded, by suggesting the development of China-Pak elder’s group and CPEC international forum, to provide strategic underpinnings and organizing seminars and webinars.
The first session of the event comprised of Ambassador (Rtd) Naghmana A. Hashmi., Ambassador (Rtd) Tariq Fatemi, Ambassador (Rtd) Riaz M. Khan, Imtiaz Gul, S.M. Hali, and Dr. Talat Shabbir as panelist. All of panelists focused on how China has achieved its goals, one of which was elimination of absolute poverty by 2020, and how we can follow the footsteps of China in making our own country prosperous and successful. The suggestions from panelists to make Pakistan prosperous were, to provide purposeful education to youth, to follow modern approach in terms of development, to learn from Chinese model, to provide job opportunities to citizens through agriculture sector etc.
In the second session of the symposium, Major General (Rtd) Samrez Salik, HI (M), Ambassador (Rtd) Zamir Akram, Dr. Hassan Dawood Butt, Brig (Rtd) Amir Yaqub, Mr. Haroon Sharif, and Mustafa Hyder Sayed were there, as members of second panel. The core subjects that were bring worth in the discussion were centennial goal China as one of the strongest economies, globally till 2049. In the view of Panelists, Pakistan as compared to China is not a weak country, but if to succeed we need to develop our values to stabilize our economy. Shift of knowledge economy with China is mandatory. They further added that secret to success is in ensuring that the public good is to practice and preform.
We have to focus on the pedestal through which we can achieve the targeted milestones. The picture is not that dull, dark and dreary, but as twining opposites we need to take lessons from our immediate neighbors, if we want far-fetched relations. To conclude, for putting our house in order, we should be positively striving towards our goals to achieve long term success. The sessions came to end with a good note from both the sides and lot of recommendations for the government and improvement in societies at large.