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Talent cultivation, vocational training to alleviate poverty: says Chinese Prof
Talent cultivation, vocational training to alleviate poverty: says Chinese Prof


LAHORE: (Thursday, November 21, 2019): Sichuan University China’s Pakistan Study Centre Director Prof. Song Zhi Hui has said that people were the key factor in development, talent cultivation through spread of education and vocational training is one of the fundamental solutions to alleviate poverty from Pakistan. He was addressing a seminar on Poverty Alleviation and China Pakistan Cooperation organized by Punjab University Pakistan Study Centre at its seminar room. Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof Dr Iqbal Chawla, Dr Amjad Magsi, faculty members and students of M Phil and PhD participated in the seminar. Addressing the seminar, Prof Song Zhi Hui emphasized the need of improvement in infrastructure, creation of job opportunities and increase in revenue for poverty alleviation in Pakistan. He said that Pakistan has a huge potential in economic field and its economy was emerging fast in recent years which may bring bright future for the country and whole region. Prof. Song was of the opinion that CPEC would bring so many opportunities for economic developments like jobs. He underlined areas to be focused including industrial relocation, agricultural development and tourisms promotion. Prof Song explained the methodologies and strategies adopted by China for its flagship success in poverty alleviation. He said that China had taken astonishing development strides in all the sectors since reforms and of all poverty alleviation was the most striking one. He said that it had lifted over 800 million people in a period of 40 years. Prof. Song claimed that it was unprecedented achievement in the social sector. He elaborated methodologies adopted for poverty alleviation including small scale relief, systematical push, large scale development, whole village assistance and precise alleviation of poverty. Dr. Chawla threw light on China’s emergence as the second largest economic power of the world. He said that China had surprised the world with its very successful poverty alleviation strategy. He said that China had been working for global peace and prosperity. He stated that since the inception of One Belt One Read (OBOR) in 2013, the US’s fear of China’s rise had increased. He said that with India, the US was trying to hamper the growth and advancement of China in global economic arena. He said that Pakistan and China had been enjoying a success story of successful, dynamic and strong relationship. Later, a memorandum of understanding MOU was signed between Punjab University Pakistan Study Centre and Pakistan Study Centre, Sichuan University China. He said that Chinese university would setup a branch of Institute of Belt and Road, Sichuan University at PU’s Pakistan Study Centre. He said that under the agreement, both the centres would develop academic cooperation through faculty-student exchange and joint research projects. Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Saleem Mazhar appreciated the signing of agreement between the two centres. He hoped that the agreement would pave the way for coordinated research endeavors for mutually beneficial projects. He emphasized the need to enhance people to people contact and collaboration between the universities. He said the student and faculty exchange would strengthen the bond of relationships between the two iron brothers. The seminar ended with lively question and answer session.