The Institute of Regional Studies Islamabad and the Institute of International Studies at Shandong University formalised a new partnership with a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen Pakistan China cooperation in academic research and policy dialogue.
The hybrid ceremony brought together senior scholars and researchers and was moderated by Ms Nabila Jaffer from the IRS and Dr Jamal Khan from the IIS. Prof Li Yuan and Dr Rizwan Naseer outlined their institutions’ research strengths and the practical avenues for collaboration under the agreement.
The MoU, signed by Ambassador Jauhar Saleem and Professor Zhang Yunling, establishes a framework for joint conferences, collaborative publications and scholar exchanges, with a special focus on opportunities for young researchers and postdoctoral fellows. Research programmes will concentrate on regional and global issues including South-South cooperation, regional connectivity and development.
Ambassador Saleem described the partnership as a meaningful enhancement of the longstanding strategic and intellectual relationship between the two countries, highlighting the role of academic diplomacy and people-to-people links in addressing evolving regional and global challenges. He noted Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and economic stability and acknowledged constructive support from China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Gulf partners.
Professor Zhang Yunling called the MoU a new start for institutional cooperation and emphasised the need to expand scholarly exchanges and joint research on bilateral and regional developments. Both sides stressed translating the agreement into concrete, evidence-based results through sustained institutional engagement and policy-relevant research.
