Minhaj University Lahore Celebrates 75 Years of Pakistan-China Friendship, Inaugurates Confucius Institute

Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Deputy Chairman, Board of Governors, Minhaj University Lahore, attended the ceremony celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Pakistan and China and the inauguration of the “MUL Confucius Institute UAF – SUBSET” at Minhaj University Lahore. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Sun Yan, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore; Prof. Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shahzad, Vice Chancellor, MUL; Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad, Registrar, MUL; Dr. Naeem Akram, Director, Confucius Institute, MUL; Dr. Saddam Hussain, Dean, Confucius Institute, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Prof. Dr. Adeel Akram, Vice Chancellor of Punjab Tianjin University of Technology (PTUT), Lahore, along with distinguished guests, faculty members and students.

The inaugural session commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Naat-e-Rasool-e-Maqbool ﷺ and the national anthems of Pakistan and China. H.E. Mr. Sun Yan highlighted the 75-year journey of Pakistan–China friendship and emphasized the importance of education and people-to-people connectivity in further strengthening bilateral relations. He termed the establishment of the Confucius Institute UAF – SUBSET at MUL an important milestone in academic and cultural cooperation and highlighted the role of Chinese language education in developing greater understanding between the people of both countries.

Prof. Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shahzad, Vice Chancellor, MUL, highlighted Pakistan–China cooperation in education, science and technology, trade, infrastructure and culture. He expressed the hope that the newly established Center would serve as a bridge between cultures and create new opportunities for students and faculty in language learning, research, academic exchanges and international collaboration.

Dr. Naeem Akram and Dr. Saddam Hussain also addressed the gathering and highlighted the role of Confucius Institutes in promoting Chinese language education, cultural understanding, academic cooperation and youth-to-youth engagement between Pakistan and China. As part of the celebrations, Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri joined H.E. Mr. Sun Yan and other distinguished guests in the cake-cutting ceremony commemorating 75 years of Pakistan–China diplomatic friendship.

The official website of the MUL Confucius Institute UAF – SUBSET was also formally launched on the occasion, providing a dedicated digital platform for its language programmes, academic activities, cultural initiatives and future collaborations. During the souvenir exchange ceremony, Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri presented a commemorative shield to H.E. Mr. Sun Yan, while the Consul General of China also presented a souvenir to Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri. Shields were also presented to other distinguished guests.

Later, Prof. Dr. Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, H.E. Mr. Sun Yan, Prof. Dr. Sajid Mehmood Shahzad, Prof. Dr. Khurram Shahzad, Dr. Naeem Akram and Dr. Saddam Hussain, along with distinguished guests, formally inaugurated the “MUL Confucius Institute UAF – SUBSET” through a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The establishment of the Center is expected to further promote Chinese language education, academic research, cultural exchange, student and faculty mobility and stronger people-to-people relations between Pakistan and China.