ISLAMABAD:
In a significant development for higher education and regional cooperation, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) and Xinjiang University have formalized a new phase of collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during a joint symposium held at Xinjiang University, Urumqi.
The agreement represents a major stride in strengthening academic linkages, promoting joint research, and fostering people-to-people exchanges within the framework of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The symposium was presided over by Dr. Liu Zhengjiang, Vice President of Xinjiang University, who highlighted the institution’s growing international role through a documentary presentation. Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, Dr. Ma Xinbin, President of Xinjiang University, reaffirmed the long-standing friendship between Pakistan and China, emphasizing the shared vision to advance higher education, research collaboration, and cultural understanding.
Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Javaid, Vice Chancellor of PIDE and Member of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, underscored that academic partnerships are vital for strengthening regional economic cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development. He emphasized that the PIDE–Xinjiang University initiative would contribute to evidence-based policymaking aligned with the broader objectives of CPEC and BRI.
Following the formal session, representatives from both institutions engaged in detailed discussions on future joint projects, student and faculty exchange programs, policy-oriented research, and capacity-building initiatives. The MoU was signed in a spirit of mutual respect and shared commitment to promoting educational excellence and regional connectivity.
Key participants included Dr. Muhammad Muzammil Zia, Executive Director (CPEC) from PIDE, and senior Chinese officials such as Dr. Ma Xinbin, Dr. Liu Zhengjiang, Naikereman·Yibulayin, Dr. Li Pu, and Mr. Liu Lei, Board Member of the Xinjiang Diplomacy Association, who reiterated support for cross-border academic engagement.
This partnership is expected to open new avenues for collaborative research, joint publications, and policy dialogues — deepening academic diplomacy between Pakistan and China and reinforcing their shared goals of sustainable progress, innovation, and mutual prosperity.
