China, Pakistan cooperating closely in science, technology education

Beijing: The Beijing International Week for Science Literacy has brought together leaders from different parts of the world to share their experiences and achievements in promoting science literacy in their respective countries and to learn from the Chinese experience, said Khan Muhammad Wazir, Science, and Technology Counselor of the Pakistani Embassy in China. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Wazir congratulated and expressed his appreciation of the leadership of the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST), for hosting the event.

A total of 24 international organizations and institutions from 22 countries and regions, with 27 representatives from various tech sectors and the science education industry, are attending the conference. They will jointly explore the issue of improving public scientific literacy and plan a win-win development path, according to the BAST, the main organizer of the event.

Khan Muhammad Wazir attended the launch ceremony at the Shougang Park in Beijing. When asked in what specific areas China and Pakistan could work together to improve the general public’s science literacy and how that will help enhance the iron-clad friendship between the two countries, Wazir noted that China and Pakistan are cooperating closely on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and recently a MoU between the China Association for Science and Technology and the Pakistan Science Foundation was signed.

The cooperation includes the training of STEM teachers, the exchange of STEM students, and the sharing of experiences and resources. Set to end on September 24, this year’s Beijing week is themed “Working Together for Common Development – Digital Literacy and Future Education.”

This theme reveals the Chinese openness, mutual learning for common benefits, and China’s willingness to share with the rest of the world its achievements in making science a culture and new normal, the councilor said. He also noted that China has used science, technology, and innovation for its socio-economic development and to transform its economy and society into digital and connected systems. The theme further explains the increasing and essential link of education with digital technology.