On May 5, 2026, the China Fellowship Award Ceremony was held at the University of Sargodha (UoS), Pakistan, marking the successful completion of the ICSF-UoS Fellowship Program 2025-26. As an important component of China-Pakistan people-to-people and academic exchange, the ceremony was not only a summary of a six-month academic journey, but also a vivid practice of strengthening youth cooperation and building academic bridges between the two sides.The six-month fellowship program was organized by the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF) at the Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, in collaboration with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Pakistan. Running from October 14, 2025, to April 28, 2026, the program aimed to strengthen academic exchange, research capacity, and cross-cultural understanding between Pakistan and China.The award ceremony was jointly organized by the Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS-UoS) and the Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad, in collaboration with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Pakistan.
The ceremony opened in a solemn and warm atmosphere. Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of PRCCSF, delivered a keynote lecture that examined the contemporary significance of the concept of a community with a shared future. He emphasized that, in an increasingly interconnected world, no country can achieve sustainable progress in isolation and that global challenges require collective and cooperative solutions.Mr. Akram further noted that, as a pioneering practice of this concept, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is not only an engine of regional development, but also a source of unprecedented opportunities for Pakistani youth. He underlined that Pakistan's youth, who account for more than 60 percent of the country's population, constitute a core driving force for national innovation and development, and that fellowship programs of this kind help consolidate the social foundation of bilateral cooperation through youth empowerment.
Prof. Li Huailiang, Dean of ICSF at CUC, described the ceremony as a celebration of profound intellectual exchange and meaningful international cooperation. He expressed sincere appreciation to the University of Sargodha, the organizers, and partner institutions for their support. He particularly commended PICS-UoS and PRCCSF for building a strong academic bridge between China and Pakistan, noting that the program effectively deepened mutual understanding and friendship among young people from the two countries.Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director of the Pakistan Institute of China Studies and Host Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sargodha, provided a detailed review of the program's implementation. From the perspective of academic design, he explained how the fellowship systematically enhanced participants' research skills, critical thinking, and cross-cultural academic engagement.
The recognition segment formed a key highlight of the ceremony. A total of 42 participants, including students and focal persons from different departments of the University of Sargodha, received certificates of appreciation from ICSF at CUC in recognition of their successful completion of the program and their outstanding performance during the fellowship cycle.Special honors were also presented to the core contributors to the program. Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram received a Citation of Honor and a Shield of Appreciation in recognition of his leadership and initiative in launching the fellowship program. Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan was also awarded a Citation of Honor, presented by Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram on behalf of Prof. Li Huailiang, for successfully implementing the program at the University of Sargodha for the first time.
Representing the fellowship participants, Mr. Muhammad Sohail Hassan shared his reflections on the program, stating that the fellowship significantly enhanced academic knowledge, research skills, and professional development. On behalf of the focal persons, Dr. Asma Khizar also appreciated the successful execution of the program. They noted that article-writing and research assignments not only strengthened participants' academic competence but also helped them build stronger international academic profiles and marked an important milestone in their professional development. The ceremony also featured a special cultural exchange segment, students performed Chinese songs as a symbol of Sino-Pakistani friendship. This segment harmoniously blended academic rigour with a human touch, vividly illustrating the fruitful outcomes of people-to-people exchanges.
Chief Guest Dr. Amir Ali, Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Sargodha, delivered the closing vote of thanks and commended the organizers for their efforts in promoting academic cooperation and youth development. He noted that programs of this kind have become part of the broader achievements of China-Pakistan inter-university cooperation and correspond with mechanisms such as the CPEC Universities Alliance, together contributing to a multi-level ecosystem of educational collaboration. The successful holding of the award ceremony marked the conclusion of the six-month fellowship program and laid a solid foundation for deeper China-Pakistan collaboration in people-to-people exchange, academic research, and youth development. It also demonstrated that the iron-clad friendship between China and Pakistan will continue to be carried forward among younger generations.
