karachi: Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the People’s Republic of China, the Parvez Hassan Centre for Chinese Legal Studies at the Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), convened a high-profile commemorative gathering highlighting the enduring strength and evolving nature of Pakistan-China relations. The event brought together distinguished members of academia, the legal fraternity, business and industry leaders, policymakers, and representatives of the Chinese community in Pakistan.
The gathering underscored the depth and resilience of the Pakistan-China partnership, which has grown over decades into a comprehensive relationship anchored in strategic cooperation, shared regional interests, and enduring people-to-people ties. At a time of significant global transition, the event emphasised the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement and the role of academic institutions in fostering informed dialogue, legal understanding, and cross-border collaboration.
The occasion was graced by the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore, His Excellency Sun Yan, whose presence reaffirmed the continued importance of Pakistan-China diplomatic relations and their expansion into academic, cultural, and institutional spheres.
Reinforcing the spirit of bilateral cooperation, scholarships supported by the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore were awarded to students at the Law School in recognition of their academic excellence, Laiba Abid, Class of 2027, and Jalal Tarar, Class of 2027. The scholarships reflect a shared commitment to education, capacity-building, and the development of future legal scholars as part of long-term engagement between the two countries.
Speaking on the occasion, Consul General His Excellency Sun Yan reflected on the evolving scope of Pakistan-China cooperation as CPEC enters its 2.0 upgraded phase, emphasising continued collaboration in economic growth, technological innovation, green development, regional connectivity, and academic exchanges as part of the next chapter of bilateral engagement between the two countries.
Discussions at the gathering reflected the long-term trajectory of Pakistan-China relations, highlighting continued expansion of cooperation across multiple sectors, while also emphasising the role of academic institutions in supporting sustained dialogue and strengthening institutional linkages throughout the proceedings.
Founder of the Centre, Mr. Parvez Hassan, emphasised the importance of institutional capacity-building in the future of Pakistan-China relations, observing that while infrastructure projects may create roads, ports, and economic corridors, it is ultimately institutions, scholarship, mutual understanding, and the ability of societies to learn from one another that sustain durable partnerships between nations.
The event was attended by Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector, LUMS; Dr. Tariq Mahmood Jadoon, Provost, LUMS; Dr. Sadaf Aziz, Dean, Shaikh Ahmad Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL), LUMS; Mr. Li Zhi Jian, Chief Operation Official at Speedaf; Mr. Tan Zidong, CEO of NORINCO International Cooperation Ltd.; Mr. Chen Qian Jiang, President of Chinese Business Council & CEO of Zhung Lan Trading Company Private Limited; Mr. Max Ma, Founder & CEO of UNI Services International Private Limited; Dr. Saeed Shafqat, Professor Emeritus & Founding Director, Centre for Public Policy and Governance (CPPG), Forman Christian College; Ambassador (Retd) Shahid Malik, Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to India & Canada; Mr. Rana Sajjad, Founder of Center for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration (CIICA); Mr. Salman Hanif Rajput, Partner at AHM & Co; Mr. Ali Eeman, Regional Head – China Coverage Central at HBL, among others.
The gathering concluded by highlighting the importance of sustained academic engagement in strengthening Pakistan-China relations, with LUMS continuing to serve as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas that support long-term institutional and cross-cultural linkages between the two countries.