Academia level linkages get boost between Pakistan, China

Islamabad: The cooperation in the realm of education, be it university-to-university linkages, academia-industry collaboration or the number of Pakistani students studying in China, are all reflective of the confidence and stability of the unique ties between Pakistan and China,” said Ms. Afifa Shajia Awais, Education Attaché of Pakistani Embassy in China.

At the 2023 “Shared Aspirations, Beyond Khunjerab PASS” Pakistan Theme Day China-Pakistan Education Cooperation Promotion Conference held by Pakistan China Centre at SCO Demonstration Area, Afifa Shajia Awais noted that the growing economic ties between the two countries have laid the groundwork for partnerships in the education sector. The number of Pakistani students studying in China stands at a good 26,000 and 25 per cent of them are recipients of different types of scholarships offered by the Chinese government, Gwadar Pro reported. These students are enrolled in a wide range of disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and information technology, and pursue sub-specialisations and hyper-specialisations in specific domains.

Expressing her gratitude to the Chinese government for offering scholarships and facilitation to Pakistani students on a preferential basis, she stated that “the educational institutions are not only providing high-quality education, imparting useful skill-set but also providing a unique cultural experience to our youth who will act as ambassadors of goodwill between the two countries in the future.” The Ministry of Education of both countries is actively engaged with each other and bringing educational institutions into a network of collaborative paradigms. Afifa Shajia Awais stated that the recent establishment of the CPEC University Consortium Exchange Mechanism was tantamount to the opening of a new chapter in bilateral exchanges and cooperation.