Inaugural Session of the Fellowship Program by the ICSF, CUC – Beijing, PICS, UoS – Pakistan

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: On October 14, 2025, the inaugural session of the Fellowship Program jointly organized by the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF), Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, and the Pakistan Institute of China Studies (PICS), University of Sargodha (UoS), was held at the University of Sargodha (UoS), Pakistan.

This fellowship program is specially designed for the Social Sciences students of bachelors/masters level, for enhancing their knowledge about Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and regional connectivity. This fellowship program will continue for six months and students will have a chance to interact with experts and scholars from 23 countries. 80 selected students are enrolled in this fellowship program.

Professor Dr. Tahir Mumtaz Awan, Director of the Pakistan Institute for China Studies (PICS) and Host Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sargodha (UoS), formally opened the session by outlining the objectives of the Fellowship Program.

Following his address, Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of Pakistan Research Center for a Community with Shared Future (PRCCSF), Islamabad, delivered an insightful speech about the concept of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, emphasizing the program’s role in strengthening academic and cultural linkages between Pakistan and China.

Subsequently, Ms. Iqra Javaid, Lecturer at the University of Lahore/member Board of Experts PRCCSF, and research mentor for this Fellowship Program, conducted a comprehensive presentation on the fundamentals of academic writing. She guided participants on the criteria and standards for writing research articles, journal papers, and academic publications.

Prof. Li Huailiang, Dean of the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF), Communication University of China (CUC), Beijing, gave an online speech in which he extended warm greetings to all participants, introduced the Institute for a Community with Shared Future (ICSF), and emphasized the significance of the Fellowship Program, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the role of young scholars in promoting Pakistan–China friendship. He described the young fellows as “ambassadors of friendship” between the two nations.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which students actively engaged with the speakers and received clarifications on various aspects of the Fellowship Program.