## China-Pakistan Engineering Accord Establishes Mutual Credential Recognition

In a significant advancement for cross-border professional cooperation, the China Society of Engineers (CSE) and the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) formalized a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Professional Engineers. The signing ceremony occurred during the Belt and Road Forum on Engineering Capacity Building, a cornerstone event of the Second Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange.

This pivotal agreement establishes a structured framework enabling the reciprocal recognition of engineering qualifications between China and Pakistan. The framework adheres rigorously to international standards while simultaneously honouring the distinct regulatory systems of each nation. Both the CSE and PEC confirmed consensus on the equivalence of competency assessments, evaluation procedures, and quality assurance systems. This alignment guarantees that qualified professional engineers from both countries will experience expedited accreditation processes.

The MRA is anticipated to furnish a highly skilled and officially certified engineering workforce essential for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and additional collaborative ventures under the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This development significantly strengthens the existing partnership between China and Pakistan in engineering and technological advancement. Concurrently, forum participants collectively endorsed the "Consensus on Belt and Road Engineering Capacity Building”. This consensus document underscores the critical importance of skills development, standardization, and international cooperation within the engineering sector.

The forum successfully convened a substantial gathering, bringing together more than 160 delegates representing six international organizations and 26 national engineering institutions. Esteemed experts from academic and industrial spheres also participated in the proceedings.