The Pakistan-China Institute signed a landmark memorandum in Beijing on 23 October to promote Green Development between the two countries, marking the first time a Pakistani institution has formalised such an agreement with the BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC). The agreement sets a framework to deepen Pakistan-China cooperation on environment and climate change under the Belt and Road Initiative and to drive low-carbon progress across CPEC as it enters its second phase.
Under the MoU, both sides committed to close coordination to advance green and low-carbon cooperation, including joint research into Pakistan-China Green Development opportunities, co-organised consultation workshops, and joint report launches with experts and stakeholders. The pact also foresees mutual support for key studies and activities and the development of high-level policy recommendations on green energy, low-carbon transportation, and other strategic issues relevant to Pakistan and other BRI partners.
The agreement was signed for Pakistan by Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Executive Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, and for China by Chen Gang, Secretary General of BRIGC. The signing was witnessed by Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Kharal, Minister of State for Climate Change of Pakistan, and Zhao Yingmin, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, underscoring the high-level support for joint green initiatives.
Mustafa Hyder Sayed described the timing of the MoU as significant, coming just before the COP30 conference in Brazil. He said the agreement recognises the Pakistan-China Institute’s role in promoting Green Development in Pakistan and will provide momentum for greening CPEC projects, helping ensure the corridor’s next phase aligns with low-carbon and sustainable goals.
The collaboration aims to translate Green Development objectives into practical policies and projects, supporting renewable energy deployment, cleaner transport options and other low-carbon solutions tailored to Pakistan’s needs. By leveraging joint research and shared expertise, the MoU seeks to position CPEC as a model for sustainable BRI implementation in the region.
