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 providing a platform for meaningful engagement among Pakistani youth, academics, students and other 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 was the chief guest on the occasion. HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, HEC Executive Director Dr Zia Ul Haq, HEC Director General Human Resource Development and Global Engagement Divisions Aayesha Ikram, Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of China Cheng Peng, representatives of China Media Group, academics, students and other stakeholders attended the forum.
Speaking at the ceremony, Wajiha Qamar said Pakistan-China relations had transcended geographical boundaries and withstood changing times and global circumstances. She said the friendship between the two countries was not merely a slogan, but a relationship built on equality, mutual trust, non-interference, peace and dignity.
Highlighting the success of CPEC, she said the next great chapter of Pakistan-China relations must be written through education, skills, universities, research, science and technology. “No country can rise without the quality of education,” she said, stressing the need to equip young people not merely with degrees but with skills, discipline, confidence and opportunities to become productive professionals, leaders and creators of opportunities.
The minister said the future of Pakistan-China relations could not be safeguarded by governments alone, adding that youth, scholars, researchers and professionals of the two countries would also have a key role. She urged the younger generation not to inherit the relationship passively but to understand it, enrich it with sincerity and carry it forward with courage and commitment.
In his remarks, HEC Chairman Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar highlighted the vast potential for expanding collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese higher education institutions. He said Pakistani universities had signed agreements with several Chinese universities under the CPEC Consortium of Universities to promote academic and research cooperation.
Dr Akhtar said HEC was committed to translating such arrangements into practical and effective collaborations. Referring to 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 significance 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 relations and mutual understanding.
She said student exchange programmes, complemented by joint research projects in various fields, were creating opportunities for youth and academics to learn from one another and co-create solutions to shared challenges.
Cultural Counsellor Cheng Peng said Pakistan and China shared a special friendship built on deep bonds between their people. He expressed confidence that the longstanding friendship would continue to grow and lead towards a brighter future for both nations.
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 through learning the Chinese language. He urged them to contribute to greater cultural understanding, friendship and world peace.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Tasawwur Zaman Babar, a media professional associated with CMG, described Pakistan-China relations as unprecedented and stressed the importance of education as a pathway to further strengthen the relationship. 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 spoke on the occasion.
The speakers emphasised the need for continuous and deliberate efforts to pass on the opportunities offered by bilateral relations. They underlined the significance of investment in education to bring the people of the two countries closer, and highlighted the importance 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 strengthening cooperation and creating greater opportunities for the youth of the two countries to learn, collaborate and contribute to a shared future.
