On the morning of September 19, 2024, the China-Pakistan Bilateral Strategic Seminar on the Construction of the China-Pakistan Major Infrastructure Smart Disaster Prevention Belt and Road Joint Laboratory of the Ministry of Science and Technology (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Laboratory) was grandly held in the conference room on the second floor of the auditorium of the Sipailou Campus of Southeast University. Vice President of Southeast University David Huang, Academician Miao Changwen of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chairman of the Academic Committee of the Joint Laboratory, President Khalid Hafeez of Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, Pakistan, Vice President Osman Hasan of the National University of Science and Technology, Khan Muhammad Wazir, Science and Technology Counselor of the Embassy of Pakistan in China, Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Director of the Emergency Center of the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, Miao Yun, First-level Researcher of the Asia-Africa Division of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ms. Lu Xiao, Third-level Researcher of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Liu Jianda, Chairman of the Jiangsu Seismological Society, Yu Qiang, Vice Chairman of the Jiangsu Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotion Association, Zhu Jinqi, President of the Jiangsu Institute of Geological Survey, Guo Hong, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology, Guo Tong, Dean of the School of Civil Engineering of Southeast University, Zhu Pengcheng, Director of the Basic Research and Overseas Cooperation Office of the Research Institute of Southeast University, Professor Xu Zhaodong, Director of the Joint Laboratory, Professor Chen Zhongfan, Executive Deputy Director, Researcher Liu Xuanya, Deputy Director, Professor Zhou Haijun, and Vice President Fu Ming of the Institute of Public Security of Tsinghua University, a co-constructor of the Joint Laboratory, attended the meeting. The conference was jointly hosted by the Joint Laboratory and the Embassy of Pakistan in China, and co-organized by Jiangsu Seismological Society, Jiangsu Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotion Association, Jiangsu Southeast Special Technology Engineering Co., Ltd. and Nanjing Dongrui Resilient City Research Institute Co., Ltd.
China-Pakistan Bilateral Strategic Seminar on the Construction of the Joint Laboratory for Smart Disaster Prevention of Major Infrastructure under the Belt and Road Initiative
At the meeting, Vice President David Huang expressed a warm welcome to all experts and leaders, especially the Pakistani delegation, on behalf of the school, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the experts and leaders for their long-term support and help to Southeast University and the Joint Laboratory! Vice President David Huang emphasized that the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory is the highest-level platform for national foreign scientific and technological cooperation and innovation. The Belt and Road Joint Laboratory Exchange Meeting of the Ministry of Science and Technology in August 2024 once again clarified that the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory is a national-level platform determined to be retained by the Central Science and Technology Commission. The school attaches great importance to the holding of the China-Pakistan Bilateral Strategic Seminar on the Construction of the Joint Laboratory, and will continue to fully support the construction of the Joint Laboratory in the future.
Academician Miao Changwen, director of the Academic Committee, said that the Joint Laboratory has always been committed to deepening international scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges, especially in serving and supporting the diplomacy of heads of state and major national diplomatic activities. It has played an indispensable role. In 2023 and 2024, the construction of the Joint Laboratory was twice included in the important topics of the meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) of Science and Technology between the two countries under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and was written into the minutes of the meeting. The construction of the joint laboratory can greatly enhance the smart disaster prevention capabilities of infrastructure in China, Pakistan and other Belt and Road countries, meet the needs of disaster prevention, mitigation and emergency management, and promote economic development and people's livelihood security in China, Pakistan and other Belt and Road countries.
Vice President David Huang delivered a speech
Academician Miao Changwen delivered a speech
On behalf of Southeast University, Vice President Huang David signed the joint laboratory construction and cooperation and exchange agreements with President Khalid Hafeez of Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, Vice President Osman Hasan of National University of Science and Technology, Professor Muhammad Masood Rafi of NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Professor Asif Hameed of Lahore University of Engineering and Technology, and Professor Nasru Minallah, Director of National Center for Big Data and Cloud Computing of University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar.
Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences
National University of Science and Technology
NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi
Lahore University of Engineering and Technology
Peshawar University of Engineering and Technology
Joint Laboratory Construction and Cooperation and Exchange Agreement Signing
Mr. Khan Muhammad Wazir, Science and Technology Counselor of the Pakistani Embassy in China, and Mr. Muhammad Mohsin Khan, Director of the Emergency Center of the National Disaster Management Authority, read out the statements of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan and the National Disaster Management Authority respectively. In the statement, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan and the National Disaster Management Authority emphasized that the joint laboratory is a model of China-Pakistan scientific and technological cooperation under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative. The construction of the laboratory will benefit the people of both countries and provide strong technical support for the development of the smart disaster prevention industry in both countries. The Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan and the Disaster Management Authority will fully support the construction of the joint laboratory.
Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology and National Disaster Management Authority issued a statement
This meeting was held in accordance with the decision of the third meeting of the Joint Science and Technology Working Group (JWG) under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor held on May 17, 2024. It was held to respond to the country's major international strategy of the Belt and Road Initiative, support the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, promote in-depth cooperation between China and Pakistan in the fields of engineering and science and technology, and further promote the construction of joint laboratories. After the roundtable discussion, the meeting passed the resolution of the China-Pakistan Bilateral Strategic Seminar on the Construction of Joint Laboratories. China and Pakistan both agreed that the construction of the joint laboratory requires policy support from the two countries' ministries of science and technology and disaster management departments; the two sides will continue to carry out in-depth cooperation in the promotion of advanced technologies for disaster prevention and mitigation, talent training and exchange, joint research, and the preparation of international standards under the platform of the joint laboratory; the two sides will rely on the Belt and Road Initiative policy to radiate and drive the cooperation of countries in the region in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation to achieve a mutually beneficial and win-win development pattern.
At this meeting, relevant leaders from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the Ministry of Science and Technology of Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, the Science and Technology Department of Jiangsu Province, the Talent Innovation and Entrepreneurship Promotion Association of Jiangsu Province, the Jiangsu Seismological Society, and the Jiangsu Institute of Geological Survey, as well as representatives from Pakistani universities such as the National University of Science and Technology, Lahore University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi NED University of Engineering and Technology, Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, and Peshawar University of Engineering and Technology, as well as representatives from domestic co-construction units such as the Tianjin Fire Research Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management, Shenzhen University, and Hefei Institute of Public Security of Tsinghua University gathered together. Relevant leaders and technical experts exchanged knowledge, shared experiences, and discussed the future construction and international cooperation plans of the joint laboratory, further clarified the construction direction of the joint laboratory, and played a significant guiding and promoting role in the future construction of the joint laboratory.
