Pakistan has vast opportunities for cooperation in higher education with China, academics say

HYDERABAD: Speakers at a seminar have urged national universities to identify new areas of cooperation with China in higher education and research and underscored the need for collaborative efforts to build the China-Pakistan Econo-mic Corridor (CPEC) and promote the spirit of friendly cooperation betwe-en the two neighbouring countries.

They were addressing a seminar on the “Strategic and Economic Dimensions of Pakistan and China Relations Amid Deepening Global Geopolitical Divide” at Sindh University on Wednesday.

SU Thatta campus Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rafique Ahmed Memon in his presidential address said that there were vast opportunities for cooperation in the field of higher education and research in China.

He said that Chinese varsities could admit a large number of Pakistani students. Chinese educational institutions should register themselves with Pakistan accreditation bodies to resolve problems faced by Pakistani students on their return after obtaining higher degrees from various Chinese varsities.

Pakistan Ambassador to China Moinul Haque said China’s production of Al-Khalid tanks and GF-17 Thunder fighter jets with Pakistan was actually a great proof of extraordinary defense cooperation between the two countries.

He said that a cynical propaganda was being spread that the CPEC project would push Pakistan deeper into the debt mire, but it was not the case at all.

Mr Haque said that it was important to open the CPEC project to public so that no propaganda could affect the friendship between the two countries.

The two countries would soon start working on an important project to prepare submarines for Pakistan Navy and China would ensure access of Pakistani engineers to its manufacturing plant.

He announced that the SU would be provided with opportunities to enter into educational agreements with top varsities of China so that it could advance in the field of higher education and research being an old varsity of Pakistan.

Centre for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CSSS) Executive Director and former ambassador Kazi M. Khalilullah said: “Pakistan has a successful foreign policy, which we have to trust,” he said. Both countries had supported each other in testing times while in terms of defense, China had always helped Pakistan to stand on its own feet, he added.

Former Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) chairman Dr Ansar Pervez said that Pakistan initially bought a nuclear power plant from Canada, but due to Canada’s coldness, the project could not go ahead and then China started the same project and it assisted Pakistan.

He said that 325 megawatt nuclear power plant provided by China was successfully operationalized, adding that China’s cooperation was continuing to meet energy needs of Pakistan.

Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and others also made speeches online.