On Dec 18, the Pakistan Studies Center at Shandong University (SDU) was officially inaugurated at the Central Campus. Established as a joint research platform between SDU and the Embassy of Pakistan in China, the center aims to be a professional hub for academic exchange and cultural dialogue.

The center will focus on education, training, scientific research, and bilateral consulting. Its mission is to facilitate academic exchange between China and Pakistan, so as to support the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and fostering a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

At the ceremony, Pakistan's Ambassador to China, H.E. Khalil Hashmi, praised Shandong's profound cultural heritage and SDU's long-standing academic excellence. As the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties approaches in 2026, he noted that cooperation has entered a new phase where knowledge-based collaboration is crucial. He expressed hope that the center will leverage Shandong's industrial strengths to drive enterprise-led innovation and cultivate new talent to enhance future bilateral ties.

SDU Vice President Wu Zhen highlighted that the center's establishment is a key step in advancing the university's internationalization strategy. He stated that the university will use high-quality resources to develop the center into a specialized platform for academic and cultural exchanges. By integrating multidisciplinary strengths, SDU aims to deepen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and contribute significant academic power to building a strong China-Pakistan community in the new era.

Khalil Hashmi and Wu Zhen attend the unveiling ceremony of the center. [Photo/Shandong University]