20/08/2026
The Confucius Institute, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (CI-UAF), proudly celebrates a historic milestone in Pakistan–China academic and cultural cooperation with the successful inauguration of its Subset at Minhaj University Lahore. Held in commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the two nations, this landmark event marks a new era of strengthened educational ties, cultural harmony, and deeper people-to-people connectivity between the iron-brother countries.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by H.E. Mr. Sun Yan, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China as Chief Guest, and Dr. Saddam Hussain, Dean CI-UAF as Guest of Honor. The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Deputy Chairman BoG, Minhaj University Lahore; Prof. Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shahzad, Vice Chancellor, Minhaj University Lahore; Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad, Registrar, MUL; Dr. Naeem Akram, Director of the CI-UAF Subset at MUL; along with distinguished guests including Prof. Dr. Mian Imran Masood, Vice Chancellor of the University of South Asia, and Prof. Dr. Adeel Akram, Vice Chancellor of Punjab Tianjin University of Technology, Lahore.
Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri delivered the welcome address, reaffirming MUL's dedication to fostering international academic partnerships and mutual understanding. Dr. Saddam Hussain underscored the importance of language education, cultural understanding, and institutional linkages in strengthening Pakistan–China friendship. He elaborated that the Center would serve as a gateway for research cooperation, exchange programs, technology transfer, skill development, scholarships, and industrial linkages. He assured full support from CI-UAF to MUL in building a long-term, meaningful, and mutually beneficial partnership that would create greater opportunities for students, faculty, and communities to learn, connect, and grow together.
In his keynote address, H.E. Mr. Sun Yan reflected on the 75-year journey of Pakistan–China friendship, emphasizing the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership built on mutual trust, respect, and support. He highlighted CPEC as a vital contributor to Pakistan's development and expressed China's willingness to advance CPEC 2.0 with a focus on agriculture, industry, and mining. Describing education as a bridge between civilizations, he termed the Confucius Center a milestone for MUL and expressed confidence that it would create new opportunities for Pakistani students to higher education and jobs in China, while preparing a new generation to contribute to the future of bilateral relations. Prof. Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shahzad highlighted the broad spectrum of Pakistan–China cooperation and expressed hope that the Center would open fresh avenues for language learning, research, and international collaboration.
The formal inauguration was carried out through a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the official launch of the Confucius Center website, and a souvenir exchange ceremony. The cultural dimension was brought to life through vibrant performances by the CI-UAF team, including traditional Chinese dance, singing, and Taiji Fan, showcasing the beauty of Chinese culture and the vital role of cultural exchange. The establishment of this Center marks a new beginning for Chinese language education, academic research, and people-to-people relations. CI-UAF looks forward to working closely with MUL to build a sustainable and impactful partnership, moving forward together towards a stronger Pakistan–China friendship through education, culture, and collaboration.
