Author: HeraldStar

By Qaiser Nawab USD stablecoins have grown into a $250 billion ecosystem. Hailed as a competitive alternative to the traditional banking system, optimists predict their usage could surpass legacy payment volumes in less than a decade, driven by advantages such as transactions settled in seconds, freedom from intermediary fees and friction, and around-the-clock transparency. Beyond promoting innovation and securing a lead in digital finance, as well as catering to family interests tied to the crypto sector, Donald Trump’s administration—through the GENIUS Act passed in July—seeks to tackle two major challenges looming over the U.S. economy: to boost demand for U.S.…

By Qaiser Nawab The increasing concentration of digital wealth and technological capability in a few global centers poses a fundamental challenge to balanced global development. As advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) become central to economic growth and governance, the digital divide risks solidifying into an insurmountable barrier for billions. In response to this global stratification, China is actively channeling its significant technological and infrastructural capacity to promote what it terms technological equality, both within its own vast geography and, crucially, across the developing world. This effort extends beyond traditional aid, positioning technology as a key driver of shared global…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The narrative surrounding China’s economy has long been defined by sheer scale. For decades, the nation was synonymous with mass manufacturing and an endlessly expanding consumer base, a market so vast that its very size eclipsed nuanced analysis. Today, however, a profound and structurally significant transformation is underway. As its per capita GDP has decisively crossed the US$13,000 mark, China is rapidly writing a new chapter for its market—one driven not merely by quantity, but by quality. This shift, underpinned by state policy and embodied in the changing habits of the world’s largest middle class,…

Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for November 10th to 21st, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, set in the symbolic heart of the Amazon, marks a moment of reckoning mandated by the Paris Agreement itself. 2025 is the critical deadline for nations to submit a new, more ambitious round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), extending their climate commitments to 2035. The context leading into Belém is stark. The Global Stocktake (GST), concluded at COP28, confirmed unequivocally that the world is woefully off-track from the goal of limiting…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The China International Import Expo (CIIE), held annually in Shanghai, has cemented its position not merely as a trade fair, but as a critical mechanism for observing the trajectory of the global economy and, specifically, the evolving nature of the Chinese market. Now in its eighth iteration, the CIIE stands as a physical manifestation of Beijing’s commitment to “high-level opening-up,” pivoting the national economic narrative from solely being the “world’s factory” to becoming the “world’s consumer.” The sheer scale of the event—this year featuring 155 countries, regions, and international organizations, alongside 4,108 overseas enterprises occupying…

The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened on Wednesday in Shanghai. This year’s CIIE will feature 4,108 overseas exhibitors from 155 countries, regions and international organizations, with the total exhibition area exceeding 430,000 square meters — with both the number of participants and the exhibition scale setting record highs. For the seventh consecutive year, American companies — including FedEx, Coach and Cargill — will occupy the largest exhibition area. Observers noted that the presence of US companies reflects their desire to continue tapping into the dynamic Chinese economy, while underscoring that China-US trade cooperation leads to win-win results. A…

By Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, President of the China-Pakistan Medical Association (CPMA) The 2025 China Conference on Holistic Integrative Oncology (CCHIO), a monumental gathering in the global fight against cancer, has concluded, leaving in its wake a powerful impetus for international collaboration and a renewed sense of hope in this transformative event, which stands as a testament to China’s visionary leadership in shaping the future of oncology. CCHIO 2025 is more than a conference; it is a global movement. Uniting over 100,000 attendees, including a staggering 6,000 international experts from every corner of the globe, the event was meticulously structured in…

The informal yet engaging interaction was also attended by Ms. Shaheena Dar, Former Deputy Speaker, AJK Assembly, and Mr. Syed Azadar Hussain Kazmi, Special Assistant to the Speaker, AJK Assembly, along with other distinguished guests.During the friendly gathering, discussions centered around regional development, youth empowerment, and enhancing cooperation between Pakistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir through sustainable initiatives. Mr. Qaiser Nawab appreciated Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar’s dynamic leadership in promoting democratic values, inclusivity, and youth participation in governance. He particularly lauded the Speaker’s efforts in initiating the Youth Internship Program at the AJK Assembly, providing young people with valuable exposure…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, recently held in Gyeongju, South Korea, took place amid a challenging global economic environment marked by slowing growth, rising protectionism, and fragile supply chains. In this context, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined a five-point framework for revitalising regional cooperation under the theme “Building an Inclusive and Open Asia-Pacific Economy for All.” His address reaffirmed that the Asia-Pacific remains one of the most dynamic regions in the world economy but acknowledged that it faces new uncertainties. The proposals focused on safeguarding multilateral trade, strengthening supply-chain stability, advancing…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The recent high-level meeting between the Chinese and US heads of state has succeeded in injecting a significant degree of certainty into the often volatile relationship between the two global powers for the coming period. Against a backdrop of prolonged trade tensions and geopolitical friction that have lasted for over seven years, the consensus reached by the two leaders is expected to more effectively manage and control the risk of further conflict escalation. This stability is seen by many analysts as a crucial external condition for the US to focus on its pressing domestic agendas,…