Pak-China joint statement and future of Pakistani students
PRIME Minister Imran Khan was invited by the Chinese leadership to visit Beijing from 3 to 6 February 2022 to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games 2022.
During the visit, the Prime Minister held talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
The Prime Minister appreciated the Chinese Government for excellent and meticulous arrangements and congratulated China for hosting the games in a streamlined, safe and splendid manner.
The two sides agreed that Olympic Games were a global event that fostered mutual understanding, inclusivity and friendship among the peoples of the world.
The Chinese leadership appreciated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s participation in the Winter Olympic Games as a mark of iron brotherhood and solidarity between Pakistan and China. Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and strengthen institutional linkages at all levels.
Both sides noted with satisfaction robust cooperation between Pakistan and China in education sector, and committed to further enhance cooperation between the educational institutions of the two countries.
Pakistan side highlighted that China has become a popular education destination. While ensuring safety against COVID-19, China will arrange for Pakistani students to return to China and resume classes in a prudent manner.
According to the data there are 28000 Pakistani students enrolled in Chinese universities and colleges, out of which majority of them are studying clinical medicine and a large number of them is Master and PhD students on scholarship.
After the pandemic majority of students went back to Pakistan and have been waiting for China to reopen its borders for students.
Chinese Government has taken effective measures to fully control and contain the pandemic across China.
With the world most populated country, it is admirable to effectively control and contain virus in 1.4 billion people.
China has controlled the pandemic in a best way, & it is a role model for the whole world. There is no secret that China made vaccine firstly, & donated to all developing countries including Iron-Brother Pakistan.
I still remember when the pandemic outbreak happened, I was in Beijing and the families of all the students were worried and were making every effort to return to Pakistan.
Chinese Government made all possible arrangements at that time and asked the foreigners including all students if they would like to return to their countries or stay in China.
At the same time, Chinese government with the help of Pakistani Embassy established a team to provide assistance to all the students not only in Wuhan but all over China.
The recent visit by Prime Minister of Pakistan to China to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics and the joint statement at the end of visit has made it clear that China and Pakistan and all-weather brotherly countries stand together in all situation.
Chinese Government is aware of all the problems and has started the stepwise opening of border for international students.
Pakistani students return to China is priority and some universities including Shanghai Jiao tong university has already issued visa forms and allowed Pakistani students to return in March 2022 session.
Pakistani students are very glad and the joint statement has come with a hope for thousands of students to return to China and play a pivotal role for the development.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi launched “Portal for Pakistani Students and Professionals in China” on 6 February 2022 in Beijing. The Portal is a pioneer initiative of the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing.
It will provide a platform for Pakistani professionals and students and solve their issues. Again, the China and Pakistan Government has proved that the friendship between two countries is higher than Himalayas, sweeter than honey and deeper than oceans. Long live China Pakistan Friendship.
—The writer is based in Beijing.
