ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, in collaboration with China Media Group (CMG), organised a China-Pakistan Youth Forum titled “Echo: Youth in Action” to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The forum was aimed at creating space for meaningful interaction among Pakistani youth, academics, students and relevant stakeholders. The programme included the screening of CMG’s documentary “Echo”, experience-sharing by Pakistani alumni of Chinese universities, and a discussion on youth and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar attended the ceremony as chief guest. HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, HEC Executive Director Dr Zia Ul Haq, Director General Human Resource Development and Global Engagement Divisions HEC Aayesha Ikram, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of China Cheng Peng, representatives of China Media Group, academics, students and other stakeholders were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Wajiha Qamar said Pakistan-China relations had gone beyond geographical boundaries and had stood firm through changing times and global circumstances. She said the friendship between the two countries was not merely a slogan, but a relationship founded on equality, mutual trust, non-interference, peace and dignity.
Referring to the success of CPEC, the minister said the next major chapter of Pakistan-China relations must be shaped through education, skills, universities, research, and science and technology. “No country can rise without the quality of education,” she said, stressing that young people should be equipped not only with degrees but also with skills, discipline, confidence and opportunities to become productive professionals, leaders and creators of opportunities.
She maintained that the future of Pakistan-China relations could not be protected by governments alone, adding that youth, scholars, researchers and professionals of both countries would also have to play their role. She urged the younger generation not to inherit this relationship passively, but to understand it, enrich it with sincerity and carry it forward with courage and commitment.
In his address, HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar pointed to the wide scope for expanding cooperation between higher education institutions of Pakistan and China. He said Pakistani universities had signed agreements with several Chinese universities under the CPEC Consortium of Universities to promote academic and research collaboration.
Dr Akhtar said HEC was committed to turning these arrangements into practical and effective cooperation. Highlighting the potential of Pakistani youth, he encouraged students to explore higher education opportunities in Chinese universities and benefit from exposure to the latest technologies. He said there should be no boundaries between Pakistan and China in the fields of education and knowledge. Referring to 75 years of cordial relations, he said the friendship was strengthened by mutual love and respect.
Aayesha Ikram highlighted the importance of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, describing the partnership as one rooted in shared history, mutual trust and strong people-to-people connectivity. She termed education the ultimate bridge between nations and said Pakistani students studying in Chinese universities were contributing to stronger people-to-people ties and mutual understanding.
She said student exchange programmes, along with joint research projects in different fields, were creating opportunities for youth and academics to learn from one another and co-create solutions to shared challenges.
Chinese Cultural Counsellor Cheng Peng said Pakistan and China enjoyed a special friendship based on deep bonds between their peoples. He expressed confidence that the longstanding friendship would continue to grow and lead both nations towards a brighter future.
He said the young generation represented the future of Pakistan-China friendship and encouraged Pakistani youth to develop a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, including learning the Chinese language. He also urged them to contribute to greater cultural understanding, friendship and world peace.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Tasawwur Zaman Babar, a renowned media person associated with CMG, described China-Pakistan relations as unprecedented and underlined the importance of education as a pathway to further strengthen bilateral ties. He highlighted the quality and environment of Chinese universities and called for expanding opportunities for Pakistani students to experience China.
Dr Hasnat Shah, Executive Director Centre of Excellence CPEC at PIDE, Dr Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director Pakistan Research Centre for Community with Shared Future, and alumni from Pakistan and China also shared their views.
The speakers stressed the need for continued and deliberate efforts to pass on the opportunities offered by bilateral relations. They underlined the importance of investment in education to bring the people of the two countries closer. They also highlighted the role of youth, education, academic exchanges, cultural interaction and people-to-people connectivity in carrying forward the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and China.
The forum concluded with a renewed commitment to further strengthen cooperation and create greater opportunities for the youth of both countries to learn, collaborate and contribute to a shared future.
