The two-day international conference on "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Corridor of Prosperity Through Education and Business," organized by Peace & Conflict Study Department of National University of Modern Languages (NUML) started Wednesday. Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz was the chief guest at the inaugural session, while Charge de Affairs Chinese Embassy Me Zhao Lijan and Dr Mujeeb Afzal were the key note speakers.
NUML Rector Major General Zia Ud Din Najam (Retd), Dean Social Sciences Dr Sufiana Khatoon Malik, Director General NUML Brigadier Riaz Ahmed Gondal, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and a large number of students also attended the conference. Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Sartaj Aziz said NUML is playing the role of a bridge between Pakistan and the rest of the world and providing excellent services of teaching various international languages, especially Chinese language. He said CPEC project will benefit 3 billion people including neighbouring and Central Asian states. He further said that CPEC project will promote peace, harmony and prosperity among all the neighbouring states.
Sartaj said 8 to 10 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) will be set up for local and international investors to promote business and industrial activities and special incentive will also be given to investors to attract them. He said road structure and to overcome energy shortage are the main components of this project which will help develop human development.
Charge de Affairs of Chinese embassy, Zhao Lijan said China is offering scholarships for Pakistani students and exchanging think tanks to better understand each other. He said there are four Confucius Institutes are working in Pakistan including NUML, which is the best in the world.
Earlier, NUML Rector Major General Zia Ud Din Najam in his address of welcome said there are two views about the CPEC - one is that project will be like rivers of honey and milk for Pakistan while the others said it is the project with huge interest rate and it is not as beneficial as pretended. The rector said in this situation it is the responsibility of academicians to develop a catharsis and guide the nation in the right direction. He termed CPEC an artery of peace. On first day, 8 papers were presented.-PR