ISLAMABAD, during a meeting in Chongqing, China, Ambassador Dr. M. Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director of COMSATS, engaged with the Chinese Vice Minister for Science and Technology, H.E. Zhang Guangjun, to discuss diversifying cooperation under their current memorandum of understanding (MOU).

According to COMSATS, the bilateral talks aimed at enhancing the scope of partnership were held on the sidelines of the inaugural Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange (BRST), an event spearheaded by MOST, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and other government and provincial departments. The discussions reflected a shared ambition to advance mutual interests and deepen ties between the two entities.

Highlighting China’s foundational role in COMSATS and its active engagement through two Centres of Excellence – the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (TIB) and the International Centre for Climate & Environmental Sciences (ICCES) – the vice minister underscored the importance of further expanding institutional linkages. The involvement of CAS and the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) was also recognized as a cornerstone of the strategic relationship between COMSATS and China.

H.E. Zhang expressed his approval of COMSATS’ participation in the BRST event and commended its efforts in fostering South-South Cooperation. He indicated an interest in furthering collaboration, noting the positive influences of such international partnerships.

In response, Ambassador Zakaria lauded the successful convening of the BRST, noting its significant international outreach and the warm hospitality extended by MOST. He conveyed his gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Government of the People’s Republic of China for their enduring support to COMSATS. He aligned COMSATS’ mission with the BRST’s vision of shared progress and expressed eagerness for future collaborative endeavors.

Both parties identified emergent technologies and scientific disciplines as potential fields for collaborative exploration. Ambassador Zakaria proposed that partnerships between academic and educational institutions could act as bridges between diverse cultures, a sentiment echoed by Vice Minister Zhang, who requested a swift follow-up on these proposals.

The meeting marks a continuation of China’s commitment to science and technology as avenues for international cooperation and underscores the strategic role of COMSATS in promoting scientific advancement across the South.