Beijing prioritises projects with Pakistan, say Chinese officials

COMSATS, Torch discuss memorandum of understanding

ISLAMABAD: China prioritises projects with Pakistan and welcomes any proposal in this regard. This was stated by Chinese officials as they interacted with officials from COMSATS while discussing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in various fields of science and technology.

An accord is likely to be inked between COMSATS and the Torch Hi-tech Industry Development Centre of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) for the benefit of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries and COMSATS member states.

The meeting was attended by COMSATS Executive Director Dr SM Junaid Zaidi, Torch Centre Division of International Cooperation Director Mo Tan and other senior officials of COMSATS and Torch Centre.

COMSATS China Desk-Adviser General (retired) Muhammad Tahir greatly appreciated the help being rendered by China to Pakistan in dealing with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and locust crises. He considered China’s good practices and experience in the field of agriculture important for Pakistan and other COMSATS member states in battling an impending threat to food security.

He further said that a science and technology park on biotechnology is being built in Jhelum and that the land is being provided by the Pakistani government. He added that modalities for the project have been worked out and that it will be based on the model of the centre of excellence of COMSATS at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB).

Tan stated that China gives top priority to anything related to Pakistan and any proposal to help the country is always welcome.

He shared Torch Centre’s role in policy-making and management of science and technology parks in China and invited Pakistani stakeholders to participate in Torch’s annual workshops on planning, construction and management of S&T Parks for knowledge-sharing and capacity development.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2020.