ISLAMABAD, OCT 16 /DNA/ – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, the Secretariat of the CPEC Consortium of Universities, and the College of International Cooperation and Education at Harbin Engineering University co-organised the China-Pakistan Youth Forum titled “The Future of China-Pakistan Cooperation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives” as part of the 6th Exchange Mechanism Conference of the CPEC Consortium of Universities.
The forum brought together young scholars, researchers and students from Pakistan and China to discuss future avenues for bilateral cooperation in higher education, research, innovation and sustainable development. It connected participants at Harbin Engineering University with eight Pakistani universities: the University of Sargodha, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, University of Sindh, Hazara University, Karakoram International University, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University and COMSATS University Islamabad.
Around 200 faculty members and students, predominantly PhD and master’s scholars, participated across nine venues. Nine young scholars and doctoral candidates from Pakistan and China presented their perspectives on CPEC development and bilateral higher education collaboration.
The discussions highlighted the role of universities and young researchers in advancing cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), particularly in research, digital technologies, space programmes, education and vocational training. Participants also discussed shared development priorities, including sustainable development, innovation, entrepreneurship, engineering, talent development and cooperation in addressing challenges related to clean water and energy security.
Participants exchanged views on corridor development, youth engagement and academic collaboration, with contributions from universities connected across Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The speakers explored practical approaches to cooperation, entrepreneurial opportunities, academic experiences and scientific innovation. The forum also announced a call for papers to commemorate the 75th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, inviting young researchers from universities in both countries to contribute scholarly work. The initiative aims to encourage academic engagement and provide a platform for youth perspectives on bilateral cooperation.
The China-Pakistan Youth Forum builds on the collaborative framework established through the CPEC Consortium of Universities and responds to the shared interest of Pakistani and Chinese higher education institutions in strengthening research partnerships, academic exchanges and interdisciplinary collaboration.
