Other than the construction of industrial products and the development of a physical link between the countries in the South Asian region, China also plans to share its technical achievements with countries participating the One Belt One Road initiative.

To this effect, China has opened a facility in Pakistan which will channel Chinese technology and know-how to its closest ally in the region, in a bid to support and groom the local Pakistani industry. This was announced by China’s Deputy Premier and Minister for Science and Technology, Wan Gang, during the inauguration of the first sub-regional facility of the China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center (CSTTC).

The Center was inaugurated by Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, and Minister Wan Gang.

The CSTTC program was launched in China in 2015. To date, this is its first fixed asset in a South Asian country.

The new institute is situated at the headquarters of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), an agency working under the Ministry of Science and Technology, in Islamabad.

The Center will improve collaboration in technology transfer and development of projects between the two countries.

PCSIR Chief, Dr Shahzad Alam, said

As per the proposal, China would provide financial support to Pakistan and other member states for setting up the centers and research laboratories for technology transfer and development.

China and Pakistan will start a joint committee on science and technology. Both countries have proposed 26 joint research and development projects, which were discussed when the Chinese delegation came to visit Pakistan. Dr Alam confirmed that both sides had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to implement the approved projects.

Via Janes