China is setting up a China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre on Earth Sciences, a multi-disciplinary hub to improve resilience to natural hazards, according to the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE) of Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

The proposed Centre will be capable to improve knowledge of natural hazard physical processes, predict natural hazards, and develop an effective methodology for mitigation of disaster risks, according to CUI Peng, vice director of IMHE. 

“The proposed Centre will establish a platform for hazard experts and policy makers to work together to develop an actionable policy for disaster risk management,” said CUI. 

Due to active geological structure of the Silk Road Economic Belt, rapid tectonic uplift and difference of climates, natural hazards frequently occurred along the Belt. The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has been attracting increased attention because of climate change and active submarine earthquakes. 

Establishment of the Centre would help “improve knowledge of natural hazard physical processes, predict natural hazards, and develop an effective methodology for mitigation of disaster risks”, according to CUI. 

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairperson of Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, said that the two sides need to define the modalities of the proposed Centre, as the mega project requires immense homework. 

“We have to involve all stakeholders in this project as it has a huge potential to deal with issues related to Earth Sciences”, said Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed while meeting CUI. 

The higher education sector of Pakistan would provide skilled human resource for the implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, said Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed. 

A conference will also be organized next spring to take input particularly from researchers who have done good work in disaster risk management. 

In terms of CAS’s setting up the “the Belt and Road” international cooperation projects on natural disaster mitigation, Pakistan side said that a China-Pak Joint Earth Sciences Research Centre should be built. They also urged relevant research institutions to speed up the development of projects on Joint Research Centre with China to serve China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and scientific and technological cooperation on as soon as possible. 

Three Centers of Advanced Studies on water, food security and energy has already been established before.