Pakistan and China on Friday afternoon took another step toward deepening people-to-people and academic cooperation with the inauguration of the Pakistan Study Centre at Shandong University, one of China’s leading institutions, underscoring the expanding scope of bilateral engagement beyond traditional sectors.

The Centre was officially inaugurated by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, in the presence of Shandong University’s Executive Vice President Wu Zhen and senior faculty members, Gwadar Pro reported quoting an official statement.

Ambassador Hashmi thanked the university leadership for their strong support in establishing the Centre and highlighted the steady expansion of Pakistan-China cooperation across education, research and innovation. He described academic collaboration as a vital pillar of long-term bilateral relations.

The ambassador noted that Shandong province, internationally recognized for its innovation and reforms in agriculture and fisheries, provided an ideal location for the Pakistan Study Centre.

He emphasized that academic platforms play a critical role in fostering mutual understanding, dialogue and sustainable people-to-people linkages.

The Pakistan Study Centre is designed to serve as a hub for Pakistan-focused studies, collaborative research, business-to-business engagement and student exchanges, with particular emphasis on agriculture and fisheries, sectors of shared importance for both countries.

Shandong University, known for its vibrant academic environment and global outlook, offers a strong institutional base for the Centre’s success.

The initiative is expected to facilitate joint research projects, policy dialogue and educational cooperation, further strengthening institutional ties between Pakistan and China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China