ISLAMABAD: Formation of a consortium of Pakistan-China research centres has been proposed to foster strong collaboration among the academic sector to promote educational ties between the two countries.

This was proposed during a webinar titled ‘71 years of China Pakistan Research and Development Cooperation: Way Forward’. It was proposed that consortium members would be from China and Pakistan to prepare a road map for collaboration in research.

The consortium would also give recommendations to governments on both sides to consider moving ahead in addressing regional and international challenges.

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) President Farhat Asif said educational collaboration was important between China and Pakistan and this webinar was organised to review research and development progress and build a way forward.

Step aimed at paving the way for educational collaboration, official says

Prof Tang Jun said various joint research programmes between China and Pakistan contributed towards promoting collaboration on issues of mutual interest and there was a growing opportunity for both sides to share research and intellect in various fields.

Ambassador of Pakistan to China Moinul Haq, in his video message, said Pakistan and China’s friendship was defined by resilience, trust and active partnership.

The ambassador highlighted the role of research centres and think tanks in exploring the complex matrix of politics, economies and socio-cultural areas of cooperation between Pakistan and China.

ECO Science Foundation President Prof Dr Manzoor Hussain Soomro said Pakistan and China might learn from each other’s experience and there were various avenues that could be explored between the two countries in exchange of knowledge and technology.

In the academic session, Dr Zhang Jiegen explained in depth dynamics of geo-strategy, geo-economic and geo-security compulsion that were offering challenges and opportunities for both China and Pakistan.

Prof Dr Zahid Anwar, pro vice-chancellor and director, China Study Centre, University of Peshawar, mentioned various agreements between research centres of China and Pakistan and said these were active agreements that were regular and robust.

Prof Dr Song Zhihui, director, Pakistan Study Centre, Sichuan University, said China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was an important milestone in China-Pakistan relations and both sides might work together to remove negative propaganda through robust media research and cooperation.

Dr Chen Ruihua, director, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Research Centre, Kashi University, said Afghanistan and Central Asian states must also be incorporated into the CPEC project as they play a crucial role in integrating the region.

Dr Tahir Mumtaz Awan, head of China Study Centre at Comsats University, Islamabad, mentioned that study institutes are essential towards bridging relations between China and Pakistan for research and development cooperation.

Prof Jin Qiang, assistant director, Intercultural Communication Research Centre, Hebei University in his in depth presentation said that both countries’ media have to play a role in refuting negative propaganda of western powers against the Pak-China friendship.

Dr Samina Sabir, coordinator, CPEC Centre, University of Azad Jammu shared about progress in Paksitan-China relations. A large number of students, faculty members from both China and Pakistan participated in the webinar.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2022