Pakistani institutions join hands to promote CPEC, BRI and Pakistan-China friendship

Islamabad: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between China Study Centre, COMSATS University Islamabad, and Centre for BRI and China Studies – Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Pakistan, was signed at Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad.

The MoU is It focuses on joint research collaborations and the development of programs to avail government and non-government research funding, academic publications, and training to improve the scientific, academic, and research levels of both institutions.

There will also be an exchange of experienced scholars and promotion of China-Pakistan relations, friends of the BRI forum, and other important subjects of mutual interest. The exchange of information and opinions on topics related to politics, economics, social and strategic studies, international relations, foreign policy, regional and interregional development, and other topics and issues of common interest to both parties are also part of the memorandum.

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS). IPDS, established in June 2014, is a Pakistan-based independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit Research, Advocacy, and Public Diplomacy Think and Do Tank. IPDS aims to provide strength to Pakistan’s effective role in global diplomacy through innovative and innovative research, effective advocacy, dialogues series, education modules, consultancy services, well-built & knitted public diplomacy initiatives, and engagements in the thematic areas of Peace and Diplomatic Studies. Centre for BRI and China Studies is an important flagship initiative of IPDS.

The COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) was established in 1998, as COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), as a project of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), which is an inter-governmental organization with 27 member states in three continents: Asia, Africa, and Latin America. CIIT was a public sector degree-awarding higher education institution and was given a charter by the Federal Government in August 2000. Later, CIIT was upgraded to a Federally Chartered University in April 2018 under the CUI Act 2018.

The China Study Centre, since its inception in 2013, aims to offer multidisciplinary research in all realms of Chinese society, together with CPEC specifically and BRI in general. The Centre envisages preparing of human resources, a natural choice for Chinese enterprises in Pakistan. The acquaintance with the Chinese language and culture and enhancing bilateral relations between both countries is always the main concern of the center.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmed Madani, Registrar, CUI, and Muhammad Asif Noor, Director, IPDS. Farhat Asif, President, IPDS, and other faculty members from CUI were present on occasion.