• Education, Skills & Tech to Drive New Frontier of CPEC 2.0: Speakers

• HEC and China Media Group mark 75 years of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations with “Echo: Youth in Action,” placing young people at the center of the next phase of bilateral cooperation

• CPEC 2.0 : youth engagement vital for the evolving Pakistan-China partnership in new era

By Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia

Islamabad, August 24, 2026: Speakers at the China-Pakistan Youth Forum, held at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, called for strengthening Pakistan-China relations through education, skills development, research, and science and technology, with young people playing a central and active role in shaping the next chapter of bilateral cooperation under CPEC 2.0.

The forum, titled “Echo: Youth in Action,” was jointly organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and China Media Group (CMG) to commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. The event brought together policymakers, academics, students, alumni and media representatives from both countries to reflect on decades of partnership and to chart a forward-looking agenda centered on youth, education and innovation.

Education and Youth Central to the Next Chapter of Bilateral Ties

Addressing the forum, Minister of State for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Wajiha Qamar, said the next chapter of Pakistan-China relations must be written through education, skills, research, and science and technology, with young people at its core. Her remarks framed the forum’s central message: that the enduring strategic partnership between the two nations must now be matched by deeper people-to-people and academic engagement, particularly among the youth who will shape the relationship’s future.

The Minister’s comments reflected a broader shift in the framing of Pakistan-China cooperation, moving the conversation beyond infrastructure and energy projects toward human capital development, innovation ecosystems and knowledge exchange as the next frontier of the bilateral relationship.

HEC Highlights Potential for University-Level Collaboration

Chairman HEC, Dr. Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (S.I.), highlighted the significant potential for stronger collaboration between Pakistani and Chinese universities through academic exchanges, joint research initiatives, and expanded opportunities for Pakistani students to study in China. He noted that universities on both sides could serve as key institutional bridges, enabling structured, long-term partnerships that go beyond one-off exchanges to build sustained research and academic ecosystems.

Executive Director HEC, Dr. Zia Ul Haq (S.I.), also addressed the forum as a key speaker, alongside Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of China, Mr. Cheng Peng. Their joint presence underscored the coordinated institutional support from both the Pakistani higher education sector and Chinese diplomatic representation for expanding academic cooperation.

The forum was also attended by academics, students, CMG representatives, alumni of Pakistan-China exchange programs, and other stakeholders invested in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

Documentary “Echo” Showcases Pakistani Students’ Journey in China

A highlight of the forum was the screening of China Media Group’s documentary, “Echo,” which chronicled the experiences of Pakistani students studying in China, featuring reflections from their Chinese teachers and offering an intimate look at the academic and cultural ties forged through study-abroad programs. The documentary was followed by discussions featuring alumni experiences and a dedicated session on the role of youth in advancing CPEC-related cooperation.

Participants noted that such storytelling initiatives serve an important role in humanizing bilateral cooperation, moving the narrative beyond government statements and infrastructure statistics to the lived experiences of students and young professionals building careers and friendships across the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram participated as a speaker at the forum, contributing to discussions on youth engagement and the evolving Pakistan-China partnership.

Rawalpindi Women University Delegation Joins the Forum

A delegation of students from Rawalpindi Women University (RWU) also participated in the forum, led by Dr. Amber Sarwar, Head of the Department of Computer Science, and Dr. Zahida Ilyas, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, under the supervision of the university’s Directorate of Student Affairs.

The RWU delegation had the opportunity to interact directly with Chinese students currently studying in Pakistan, an exchange that organizers described as a valuable, hands-on complement to the forum’s broader discussions. Such direct interactions, participants said, allow students to build informal networks and cultural understanding that formal academic agreements alone cannot always achieve.

Reaffirming People-to-People Connectivity

Throughout the forum, speakers repeatedly returned to the theme of education, cultural exchange and people-to-people connectivity as vital bridges between Pakistan and China. Officials and academics agreed that as the two countries mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, the strength of the partnership increasingly depends on the depth of engagement among students, researchers and young professionals, rather than government-to-government ties alone.

News Backgrounder: CPEC 2.0 and the Push Toward Education-Led Cooperation

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), launched in 2015 under China’s Belt and Road Initiative, initially prioritized large-scale energy and infrastructure development, including power generation projects, highways and the development of Gwadar Port. As these foundational projects matured, both governments began shifting focus toward what is now termed CPEC 2.0 — a phase emphasizing industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, socio-economic development, and increasingly, education and human capital.

Under CPEC 2.0, education and research collaboration have emerged as priority areas, recognized by policymakers on both sides as essential to sustaining long-term strategic partnership beyond physical infrastructure. Scholarship programs, university exchange agreements, joint research centers and student mobility initiatives have expanded steadily in recent years, with thousands of Pakistani students having studied in China across engineering, medical, technology and social science disciplines.

Institutions such as the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and platforms like China Media Group have increasingly partnered on initiatives that combine academic exchange with cultural diplomacy, using media, documentaries and youth forums to build public understanding and engagement around the bilateral relationship — extending the CPEC narrative from ports and pipelines to classrooms and campuses.

Conclusion: Building Meaningful Academic Linkages for a Shared Future

The “Echo: Youth in Action” forum reflected a clear and consistent message from speakers across government, academia and media: the future of Pakistan-China relations will be shaped as much in classrooms and research labs as in ports and industrial zones. By bringing together Pakistani and Chinese universities, students and educators, the event highlighted the meaningful academic linkages already taking root — from joint research opportunities to student exchange programs and direct people-to-people interaction.

As both countries look ahead to the next phase of cooperation under CPEC 2.0, sustained investment in education, research and science and technology partnerships between Pakistani and Chinese universities will be central to ensuring that the relationship remains mutually beneficial and forward-looking. With young people increasingly positioned at the heart of this engagement, forums like this one signal a broader institutional commitment to building an educational partnership that can endure and evolve alongside the strategic and economic dimensions of the Pakistan-China relationship.

Reporting from Islamabad. Details are based on official information shared by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and China Media Group (CMG) regarding the China-Pakistan Youth Forum held on August 24, 2026.