Islamabad, October 30,2026: Senior government officials, diplomats, policymakers and development experts from China and Pakistan have called for stronger regional cooperation, economic connectivity and inclusive development to address poverty across South Asia.
The call was made at the 2026 China South Asia Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development Cooperation, held in Islamabad under the theme “Creating Development Opportunities for Common Prosperity.”
Organized by the China International Communications Group (CICG) in collaboration with the Understanding China Forum, the event brought together representatives of government institutions, diplomatic missions, international organizations, research institutions and the development sector. Daily Ittehad Media Group served as the exclusive media partner.
The opening session featured addresses by Yu Tao, Vice President of CICG; Dr. Zafar Uddin Mahmood, Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Pakistan on China Affairs and President of the Understanding China Forum; Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong; and Minister of State for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani. The session was moderated by You Shanshan, Vice President of the CICG Center for Europe and Asia, also known as China Pictorial Publications.
Addressing the forum, Yu Tao highlighted China’s experience in eliminating absolute poverty and stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation with South Asian countries. He called for greater collaboration through poverty reduction demonstration projects, institutional exchanges and the application of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and smart agriculture.
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong described poverty alleviation as a shared responsibility of the international community and reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting development cooperation with Pakistan and other countries of the Global South.
Highlighting the contribution of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Pakistan’s economic development, the ambassador said the initiative had brought approximately $25.9 billion in direct investment, added more than 8,000 megawatts to electricity generation capacity and created over 260,000 jobs. He said CPEC 2.0 would further expand cooperation in agriculture, industry and other productive sectors.
Minister of State Chaudhry Armaghan Subhani said sustainable poverty reduction required investment in education, technical skills, employment generation and social protection. He highlighted Pakistan’s development priorities under the URAAN Pakistan initiative and appreciated China’s continued support for socioeconomic development projects in the country.
Dr. Zafar Uddin Mahmood said China’s poverty alleviation experience offered valuable lessons for developing countries. He emphasized that sustainable development required a combination of economic growth, effective governance, institutional reforms, education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
The programme also featured the presentation of key Chinese publications on governance and poverty alleviation. Chinese representatives presented copies of the English edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Volume V; the Urdu edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Volume II; and the English edition of Up and Out of Poverty to distinguished guests from South Asian countries.
The forum also saw the release of a report titled International Public Opinions on the Achievements, Philosophy, and Experience of China’s Poverty Alleviation. The report was presented by Qiao Zhenqi, Director of New Media Operations at the CICG Center for Europe and Asia.
Two thematic sessions followed the opening proceedings, examining poverty reduction practices, inclusive development, economic transformation and regional cooperation. Both sessions were moderated by Hassan Daud Butt, Executive Director of the Understanding China Forum.
The first session, titled “Poverty Reduction Practices and Inclusive Development,” featured Dr. Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE); Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI); Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative of UN Women Pakistan; and Liu Yonggang, Assistant CEO and Chief Representative in Pakistan of China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited.
Discussions focused on sustainable poverty alleviation, inclusive economic policies, social protection, women’s economic empowerment and employment generation. Participants stressed the need to strengthen institutions, expand access to education and skills development, and ensure that economic growth benefits vulnerable communities.
The second session, titled “Development Momentum and Regional Cooperation,” featured Moeed Yusuf, Vice Chancellor of Beaconhouse National University; Wang Huihua, Managing Director of Energy China International Group Limited in Pakistan; and Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Senior Development Economist.
Participants discussed regional economic integration, infrastructure connectivity, industrial cooperation and sustainable investment. They explored opportunities to strengthen economic partnerships between China and South Asian countries, particularly through CPEC 2.0, technological innovation and the development of regional trade and investment networks.
The forum underscored the importance of closer cooperation among governments, international organizations, research institutions and the private sector to tackle poverty and promote sustainable development. Participants emphasized that economic growth, technological advancement and regional connectivity must translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
