ISLAMBAD – Annoushay Zahra, a 19-year-old medical student from Pakistan, was thrilled about the beginning of a new phase of her life in China after receiving the Chinese government scholarship for 2023-2024.
Zahra was recently awarded a fully-funded scholarships by China to study in various top-ranking universities to pursue their graduate, master’s and doctorate degree programs.
With a cheerful smile and a sense of gratitude, Zahra told Xinhua that she is grateful to the Chinese government and the people for providing Pakistani students a gateway to realizing their dreams and goals.
She also mentioned that, as a recipient of the Chinese scholarship, she is so excited about the incredible opportunity and eager to explore new cultures and languages and make new friends from China and around the world who will be joining us during our academic journey in China.
Zaneera Malik, another student who will be following a doctoral degree in China said, other than the characteristics of academic knowledge and growth, the scholarship has provided her an exclusive platform to represent Pakistan on the international stage as well as learn rich Chinese culture.
The scholarship is not about education only, it is about building bridges between nations, fostering education diplomacy and contributing towards a global pool of knowledge and research, both in Pakistan and worldwide, she added.
Malik believed that the collective efforts of both China and Pakistan would bear fruit in the form of scholars who are permitted to bring positive change to society.
Recently on the sidelines of a send-off ceremony organized by Pakistan’s Higher Education Commission (HEC), Chairman of HEC Mukhtar Ahmed told Xinhua that Pakistan and China enjoy a long history of relationship and have been collaborating in various fields including the education sector for socio-economic development.
These students are going to learn skills and advanced technology from China, which is the fastest developing country in the world. After learning the best practices accepted by the Chinese people to make huge progress, these students would be playing a crucial role in the national development of Pakistan.
Pang Chunxue, charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, said the Chinese government attached great importance to the educational exchanges and support between the two countries, which have continued to increase and deepen to a new historic level. She also mentioned that, the scholarship program is a crucial measure by the Chinese government to promote exchanges and cooperation between China and Pakistan, help Pakistan improve talent cultivation and capacity building and continuously deepen the “ironclad” friendship between the two countries.
