On May 11, 2022, the Dialogue on Academic and Educational Cooperation between Universities on Sichuan, China and Pakistan was held by the China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences (hereinafter referred to as "CPJRC"). This dialogue was held both online and offline at venues in Chengdu, Sichuan and Islamabad, Pakistan.
In this dialogue, Prof. Jiang Enlai, Vice President and Secretary-General of China Association of Higher Education, Prof. Chen Xuehua, Deputy Director-General, Department of Science & Technology, Sichuan Province, Prof. Yang Jianguo, Secondary Counsel, Department of Education, Sichuan Province, Lt General Muhammad Asghar, member of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and former Vice Chancellor of National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan, and Prof. Cui Peng, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of CPJRC, all of them delivered opening speeches and extended sincere congratulations on the convening of the meeting. Prof. Chen Xu, Deputy Director of Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau, Prof. Zeng Ying, Vice President of Chengdu University of Technology, and Prof. Heng Tong, Deputy Party Secretary of Southwest Petroleum University attended this meeting. The Dialogue was presided over by Prof. Hong Tianhua, Executive Director of CPJRC.
Prof. Jiang Enlai said that, aiming at serving the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the China Association of Higher Education joined hands with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan to initiate and establish an exchange mechanism for the "CPEC Consortium of Universities", providing an exchange platform for interconnection and mutual learning in higher education of the two countries. CPJRC, as a member of the Consortium, has been making great contribution in the aspects such as training, student exchange and talent cultivation, and China Association of Higher Education will keep supporting CPJRC to fully develop its advantages as a scientific education platform, improve talent cultivation based on technology, and benefit the people of two countries with technological achievements.
Prof. Chen Xuehua said that universities are a major force for science and technology innovation of Sichuan province, and also a main front of cultivation and gathering of innovation talents, and the Science and Technology Department highly values the science and technology cooperation between universities and institutions. Going forward, the Science and Technology Department will keep supporting industrial institutions, universities, and research institutes such as CPJRC to further and stably promote international cooperation in science and technology innovation, and the Department will also actively engage in cooperation R&D, technology transfer, joint construction of co-research platforms and joint organization of important science and technology exchange events. He expressed that it is expected to enhance the mutual understanding between universities of China and Pakistan, and seek cooperation opportunities to contribute more to the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Prof. Yang Jianguo said that Sichuan as one of the largest sources of students nationwide has been engaged in education exchanges and cooperation with many other countries and regions. Looking ahead, the Education Department of Sichuan Province will continue its unfailing support for educational and scientific cooperation with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pakistani universities via CPJRC, increase the exchange of international students and mutual visits of teachers, and make new contributions to the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, bilateral cultural exchanges and talents cultivation, collaborative innovation in education and science and regional sustainable development.
Prof. Cui Peng expressed his heartfelt thanks to the guiders, supporters, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, China Association of Higher Education, Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, Education Department of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, and all the representatives of Pakistani and Sichuan universities attending the Dialogue. He hoped that a smooth communication and exchange platform between Sichuan and Pakistani universities can be set up after the Dialogue and more Sichuan universities will join the "CPEC Consortium of Universities" to promote the development of science and technology education in both countries.
Prof. Muhammad Asghar said that as the world has entered an era of multipolarization, the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership is of vital importance to both countries. As Pakistan has become the third-largest source country of students studying in China, it is hoped that the Dialogue would inject new impetus to the growing academic cooperation and deepen bilateral ties by higher education institutions developing in harmony in both countries.
Following the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Safdar Ali Shah, Director of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Office of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, briefed the background and development of CPEC Consortium of Universities; Su Lijun, Executive Deputy Director of CPJRC and Deputy Director of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, highlighted the background and objectives of CPJRC and the efforts made in scientific research, training and academic exchange; Pakistani representatives of 8 universities, including Quaid-i-Azam University, National University of Sciences and Technology, and University of Peshawar, and Chinese representatives of Sichuan University, Southwest Jiaotong University, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu University of Technology and Southwest Petroleum University, had a heated exchange and discussion regarding the "Reflections on Regular Contact Mode" and "Prospects of Cooperation in Superior Disciplines". Zhang Jiegen, Head of the Chinese Secretariat of the Consortium, was invited to introduce the procedures and requirements for Sichuan universities joining in the CPEC Consortium of Universities.
The Dialogue stands as the first bilateral cooperation and exchange meeting held by CPJRC, which has enhanced mutual understanding between universities of both sides, laid a solid foundation for recommending Sichuan universities to join the "CPEC Consortium of Universities" and promoting them to participate in the development of CPJRC. It also renders a cooperation platform for Sichuan universities to make contributions to the development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Speeches and Reports from Leadership (Photo by CPJRC)
Online Meeting
Group Photo of Attendees