ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pro Vice Chancellor of Punjab University Professor Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar and the Executive Director of the Centre for Global and Strategic Studies (CGSS) Khalid Taimur Akram met the Director General (China) Muhammad Mudassir Tipu at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Pakistan-China cooperation in the education sector and educational linkages between the Universities of two Countries were discussed.
The Director General (China) emphasized that it is imperative to build linkages between academia, think-tanks, and policy circles.
Mudassir Tipu underscored that China and Pakistan have cooperation in multifaceted areas including in the domain of education and Science and Technology.
Highlighting the importance of Pakistan-China cooperation in the education sector, he maintained that there are about 28,000 Pakistani students in China and similarly, there are 10 Pakistan Study Centers and 11 Urdu Language Departments in prominent Universities of China.
Muhammad Mudassir Tipu underscored that Punjab University being one of the oldest institutions in Pakistan may explore the possibility of establishing a China Study Centre at the University.
Mudassir Tipu underlined that Punjab University may also hold events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.
The Pro Vice Chancellor Punjab University apprised that University has approved the establishment of the ‘Regional Integration Centre’ aimed at promoting connectivity and universities of the region. He briefed that a number of Pakistani students have learnt the Chinese language at Confucius Institute and Institute of Language and Linguistic established at Punjab University.
Similarly, the University has established two Centers of Excellence: Area Study Centre for South Asia and Pakistan Study Center, and scores of Chinese students have enrolled in PhD programs at the University of Punjab, he added.
Professor Dr. Saleem Mazhar highlighted that there is a need to enhance teachers and researchers exchange program; joint seminars and streamline the admission policies of universities of both the Countries.
The Executive Director CGSS Khalid Taimur Akram maintained that the CGSS is committed to promoting and facilitating the educational institutions, conducting roundtable discussions, interactive sessions, and webinars.
The Director General lauded the efforts of the University of the Punjab and the CGSS in enhancing Pakistan-China cooperation in the education sector. He assured support in building institutional linkages and connecting universities of the two Countries.
