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From May 20 to May 21, 2019, Prof. Zhang Yaping, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), led a delegation to Islamabad, Pakistan, to promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences (CPJRC). Prof. Li Yin, Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS, Prof. Huang Tieqing, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Major R&D Programs, and Academician Cui Peng, Chinese Director of CPJRC, joined in the visit.

During his stay in Pakistan, Prof. Zhang Yaping met with Prof. Muhammad Qasim Jan, President of the Academy of Sciences of Pakistan, Prof. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Science and Technology, Prof. Tariq Banuri, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) and so on. Prof. Zhang Yaping introduced the basic condition of CAS and its cooperation with the scientific and technological circles of Pakistan on science and education, and suggested that they should further strengthen cooperation in science and education under the framework of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) in the future, especially on their joint construction of CPJRC, so as to provide scientific and technological support for the implementation of the "Belt and Road" Initiative and the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

On the morning of May 21, the delegation had an in-depth communication with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the department competent of CPJRC in Pakistan, on the preparation for the establishment of CPJRC. Dr. Tariq Banuri, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, extended a warm welcome to the Chinese delegation. He said that the Pakistani side attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Chinese side on the construction of CPJRC and firmly believed that this cooperation would significantly enhance the global influence of Pakistan's scientific and educational institutions, improve Pakistan's capability to deal with climate change, and make outstanding contributions to the development of the two countries and even the entire region.

Currently, the Pakistani side has determined the land for construction, and will form a joint working group with the Chinese side in the near future to speed up the construction of CPJRC. The two sides both hoped that CPJRC could make full use of the existing resources and develop into an independent, open and international science and education platform. Prof. Muhammad Asghar, Executive Director of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Prof. Mazhar Saeed, Director-General of the Planning and Development Division, Prof. Awais Ahmad, Director-General of the Administration and Coordination Division, Prof. Safdar Ali Shah, Director of CPEC Office, and other personnel joined in the discussions and exchanges as well.

Accompanied by the Pakistani side, the delegation investigated the construction land used for infrastructure of CPJRC in Quaid-i-Azam University. Prof. Muhammad Ali, President of Quaid-i-Azam University, said that Quaid-i-Azam University would actively assist the Higher Education Commission to promote the construction work as soon as possible, and believed that the international and open construction concept of CPJRC would greatly enhance Pakistan's scientific and educational level in earth sciences.

During the visit to Pakistan, the delegation also visited the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences to discuss the cooperation on science and technology between China and Pakistan and the construction and development of CPJRC international science and education platform. Minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, Academician Muhammad Qasim Jan - President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Academician Asif Khan - President of the University of Peshawar, as well as heads of science and technology departments and academicians and experts also participated in the discussions. The leaders, experts and academicians present highly recognized the construction of CPJRC and its construction policy of "basing upon earth sciences, enhancing scientific research capabilities, supporting people's livelihood and development, promoting talent training, and opening up to the world", believed that CPJRC's construction is of great significance for strengthening the scientific and technological cooperation and enhancing the all-weather strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed that they would strongly support and participate in the construction of CPJRC and the cooperation in science and education.

The delegation also discussed and communicated with Prof. Yao Jing - Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan - on the visit to Pakistan and the construction of CPJRC. Ambassador Yao Jing believed that the construction of CPJRC would help promote the construction of the "Belt and Road" - especially the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor - to head towards high-quality development. As an important component of the "Belt and Road" people-to-people bond project, it will play an important supporting role for the science and technology, people's livelihood and sustainable development of the countries along the "Belt and Road". He also said that the Embassy in Pakistan would provide assistance as much as possible for the construction of CPJRC and China-Pakistan science and education cooperation through various channels and methods.

Before the end of the visit, the delegation also held discussions with Chinese-funded enterprises in Pakistan to investigate their technological needs and their participation into the joint construction of CPJRC. The leaders of China Road and Bridge Corporation, CCECC, PowerChina, Huawei Group, China Three Gorges Corporation, CGGC and other enterprises in Pakistan participated in the discussions. After listening to the construction progress of CPJRC, the representatives of the companies agreed that CPJRC could provide good support for the development of Chinese-funded enterprises and is of great significance to promoting the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. They would participate in the construction of CPJRC through multiple channels and methods based on their own characteristics and technological and talents needs, and hoped that they could have in-depth communication and exchanges with CPJRC on specific issues.

In November 2018, the construction plan of CPJRC was approved by the President Meeting of CAS, and CAS and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan entered into a memorandum of understanding under witness of the Premier of China and the Prime Minister of Pakistan. On February 22, 2019, the first meeting of the Chinese Council of CPJRC was officially held. At present, the construction of CPJRC has entered into the stage of substantive promotion and implementation.

Prof. Jia Wei, the First Secretary of Science and Technology of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, Prof. Jiang Yiqi, Deputy Director of Division of Asian and African Affairs of the Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS, Prof. Ge Yonggang, Deputy Director of Science & Technology and Cooperation Division of the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, and other personnel joined in the visit as well.

Visit to the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to discuss the preparations for the establishment of CPJRC

Visit to the proposed site of CPJRC

Visit to the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan to discuss the China-Pakistan cooperation on science and technology and the construction of CPJRC

Visit to the Pakistan Academy of Sciences to discuss the construction of CPJRC

The delegation discussed with Chinese-funded enterprises in Pakistan about the joint construction of CPJRC