Islamabad: The 6th Exchange Mechanism Conference of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Consortium of Universities convened at Harbin Engineering University in China, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation in higher education, research, and innovation. This event marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China and involved over 120 representatives from more than 40 universities and research institutions from both countries.
According to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the conference titled “Nurturing a Shared Future through Cooperation on High-Quality Development of Higher Education between China and Pakistan,” was guided by both the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan and the China Association of Higher Education. Key participants included Chairman HEC Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education Zhang Daliang, and several other prominent officials from both nations. The conference featured video messages from Liu Yong, representing China’s Ministry of Education, and Syed Ali Asad Gilani, the Pakistani Ambassador to China.
A significant development from the conference was the release of the Annual Development Report on the Exchange Mechanism of CPEC Consortium of Universities. The report, covering progress since 2025, highlighted cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, agriculture, mining, marine information, and public health. The conference inaugurated the High-Level Graduate Student Research Visit Programme for the CPEC in Pakistan, facilitating research visits and joint training for Pakistani students in China. Harbin Engineering University also signed cooperation agreements with Pakistani universities to fortify institutional partnerships.
The event included presentations of annual work reports from the Chinese and Pakistani secretariats, outlining recent progress and future collaboration priorities. Representatives from seven universities shared experiences in academic development, research collaboration, and personnel training. Parallel forums on marine information, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, intelligent manufacturing, and the China-Pakistan Youth Forum provided platforms for experts to exchange research findings and explore further cooperation opportunities.
Established in November 2017, the CPEC Consortium of Universities promotes collaboration in human resource development and scientific research, aligning with CPEC-related priorities. Harbin Engineering University, a Consortium member since 2021, has been active in developing human resources and joint scientific initiatives, contributing to academic and scientific collaboration under the CPEC framework.