Pakistani students participate in training at a modern agriculture practice center at Bailie Vocational College in Zhangye city, Gansu province.

Over the past 75 years, China and Pakistan have forged increasingly close and institutionalized cultural and educational cooperation, laying a foundation for their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1951, the two countries have engaged in frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Early visits by cultural groups and joint exhibitions set the stage for enduring collaboration.

In 1965, the two sides signed a cultural agreement in Rawalpindi, a major city in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, and launched their annual cultural exchange plan that same year. By late 2025, 14 such plans had been signed, providing an institutional framework for bilateral cultural interactions.

Progress has been steady in building exchange platforms. In 2010, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish cultural centers, and 2015 was designated as the China-Pakistan Year of Friendly Exchanges.

Furthermore, the China Cultural Center in Pakistan was officially inaugurated in Islamabad in April 2017, serving as a symbol of the friendship and a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Recognizing language as a vital bridge for connection, Beijing Language and Culture University and Pakistan's National University of Modern Languages jointly established Pakistan's first Confucius Institute in Islamabad in 2005.

The institute features an impressive statue of Confucius and Chinese cultural elements, such as red paper-cuttings and posters. It regularly hosts cultural experiences and summer camps, helping Pakistani students appreciate the charm of Chinese culture.

By December, China had set up five Confucius Institutes and two independent Confucius Classrooms across Pakistan. Growing interest in the country has led to a significant increase in institutions offering Chinese language courses.

China began accepting Pakistani students in 1964 and by December 2024 had welcomed approximately 25,000 Pakistani students.

In 2022, China and Pakistan signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of higher education degrees and diplomas, creating a pathway for talent development and deepening cross-cultural understanding.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative known for its role in infrastructure development, has also helped take educational cooperation to new heights, extending cooperation from higher education to vocational training and industry-education integration.

With Pakistan aiming for 30 percent of its vehicles to be electric by 2030, there is an urgent need for skilled workers in battery manufacturing, management systems and recycling. Pakistani officials have expressed hope for joint training centers and enterprise-led apprenticeships to nurture local talent under the CPEC framework.

People-to-people events have also strengthened bonds. On April 18, a children's gala was held in Islamabad to celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. Around 500 people attended, including Pakistani government officials, representatives from Chinese diplomatic missions in Pakistan, leaders of the overseas Chinese community, and children from both countries.

Zafar Uddin Mahmood, special representative on China of the prime minister of Pakistan, said that Chinese culture is profound and unique, and it is worthwhile for Pakistani children to learn about and understand it.

He expressed hope that more Pakistanis would learn Chinese, using language as a bridge to enhance mutual learning and understanding.

Chen Peng, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy in Pakistan, confirmed that the embassy would continue to deepen cultural and educational exchanges between Chinese and Pakistani youth and support various people-to-people friendship activities.

As the two countries celebrate their 75th diplomatic anniversary, cultural and educational cooperation will keep deepening, fostering greater friendship and supporting the steady growth of China-Pakistan relations.

haonan@chinadaily.com.cn