A composite delegation from the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad attended a high-level seminar in Shanghai hosted by the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General of ISSI, delivered the keynote address, and other ISSI members participated in panel sessions addressing security, development and minilateralism as part of broader China–South Asia cooperation discussions.
The seminar, titled Development and Cooperation between China and South Asian Countries, brought together scholars, diplomats and policy experts to explore avenues for deeper economic and strategic engagement. Organizers framed the event as a platform for dialogue on regional connectivity, economic cooperation and shared development objectives.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood’s keynote represented Pakistan’s institutional perspective at the event. In addition to his address, ISSI delegates contributed to sessions that examined regional security dynamics, development priorities and the role of minilateral arrangements—smaller, targeted groupings of states—in advancing cooperation.
ISSI’s participation signals ongoing engagement between Pakistani think tanks and Chinese research institutions on policy issues affecting South Asia. The exchanges at the seminar aimed to strengthen policy dialogue and foster collaborative approaches to common challenges in the region.
