"Pakistani and Chinese universities collaborating under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Consortium of Universities will generate ideas leading to the development of both the countries, as universities are the nurseries of ideas."

This was stated by Executive Director Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Fateh Marri while addressing the closing ceremony of the two-day 3rd annual conference of CPEC Consortium of CPEC Universities held under the aegis of Higher Education Commission (HEC) here on Wednesday.

The conference held under the theme of "Academic Collaboration for Sustainable Partnerships" reviewed the progress and pledged to reinforce the efforts to achieve the objectives of the consortium.

Dr Marri underlined that ideas are the most important part of the initiatives taken for the uplift of nations, adding that the consortium has provided the member universities with a great opportunity to jointly work on the issues of bilateral interests.

He underlined that Pakistan and China enjoy cordial relations with their bilateral friendship rightly considered higher than the Himalayas. The consortium will further deepen the bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, he added.

He informed the participants that the HEC accords high value to the consortium, as it has established a dedicated unit on the CPEC. He highlighted the importance of research universities, infrastructure and connectivity, water and food security, and special economic zones which were discussed in the conference proceedings.

Congratulating the conference organizers, he said that the credit of holding the successful 3rd annual conference goes to CAHE, HEC and the partner universities.

Vice President CAHE Guan Peijun stressed the need for further expanding the collaborative efforts being made under the consortium.

He underlined that the weak points of exchange mechanism must be identified and overcome. The operational efficiency of the consortium needs to be worked on so as to further strengthen it, he emphasized.

Director General HEC CPEC, Dr Safdar Ali Shah shared an overview of the activities carried out under the consortium for the period of November 2018 to October 2019.

He said that a document of understanding was signed in November 2018 on establishment of China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre on Earth Sciences. The PC-1 of the project is in the process of approval.

In this regard, the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment held a training workshop in Quaid-e-Azam University which was attended by faculty members and postgraduate students from across the country.

He informed the audience that 10 universities of the consortium had organized 117 visits to China and received 67 from China, adding that they also signed 61 MoUs with different Chinese universities.