Pakistan, China to strengthen digital collaboration

In the next stage, the collaboration between Pakistan and China will extend from traditional to upgraded economic corridors, focusing on transportation, circulation, and data exchange. Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced this at the EuroAsia Pakistan Digital Economy Forum in Beijing on July 3.

“Pakistan’s human resources cannot be underestimated. With 60% of our population under the age of 35, we have a unique opportunity and challenge. By working closely with China to provide systematic sci-tech training to this talent pool, we aim to maximise our valuable resources in the digital age,” Khawaja stated.

The minister highlighted PM Sharif’s recent visit to China, reiterating that the Pakistani government prioritises the digital field. Dr Zhao Baige, recipient of Pakistan’s “Medal of Excellence Crescent,” supported this with specific suggestions. “Training at all levels is crucial. This includes government, non-governmental, and corporate levels, as cross-border connections are key to the digital economy revolution. Pakistani partners are eager to form a CPEC digital economy park, leveraging Beijing’s experience. Through step-by-step construction, we hope the China-Pakistan Digital Corridor will lead the global digital economy.”

Participants from both countries shared ideas about the digitalised CPEC. Marouf Ali Shahani, COO of Cyber Network Company, discussed efforts to build a communication network from China to Karachi and other Pakistani cities. “The digital corridor will significantly impact Xinjiang, Karachi, and Gwadar Port,” Shahani said. Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Government, Xu Xinchao, highlighted Beijing’s digital economy achievements, with an added value of 1.8 trillion yuan in 2023, accounting for 42.9% of the region’s GDP. “Beijing is accelerating the construction of a global digital economy benchmark city and exploring a ‘Digital Silk Road’ pilot zone. We are working with countries like Singapore, the UAE, and Pakistan to explore new economic cooperation models for the Digital Silk Road.”

THE ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET