On 7 August 2026, Prof. Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, visited the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Islamabad, where he was warmly received by Mr. Shi Yuanqiang, Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Chen Peng, Cultural Counsellor, and other distinguished diplomats of the Embassy.
The meeting provided an important opportunity to exchange views on the evolving landscape of higher education and to explore new avenues for academic and research cooperation between Pakistan and China.
The Embassy’s leadership appreciated the significant contributions of HEC Pakistan under the leadership of Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar and acknowledged its efforts to enhance the quality, relevance, research capacity, and international engagement of Pakistan’s higher education sector.
Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar highlighted the strategic importance of China as a key partner in Pakistan’s higher education development and reaffirmed HEC Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening institutional linkages between universities, research institutions, and academic communities of both countries. Discussions focused on expanding research collaboration, academic exchanges, innovation partnerships, and increasing the mobility of students and scholars.
Building on the enduring and time-tested friendship between Pakistan and China, both sides expressed their commitment to further advancing cooperation in higher education and research, guided by a shared vision of promoting knowledge, innovation, and human capital development for a prosperous future.
Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, a renowned award-winning expert on China and Executive Director of the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), also participated in the meeting.