Meeting with the Chinese Consulate

15th February 2023: Members of the Centre for Chinese Legal Studies (CCLS) at LUMS were invited to the Consulate of the People's Republic of China in Lahore by the Hon. Mr. Zhao Shiren, Consul General for China. Representing CCLS were Professor Sikander Ahmed Shah (Director, CCLS), Umar Agha (Instructor, 'Political Meritocracy and the Limits of Democracy'), and Hui Qi (Instructor, ‘Mandarin’). The discussion explored the potential for building shared strategic intersections between Pakistan-China in terms of innovative educational initiatives, Chinese language training programs, and CPEC-specific research projects. Another core area of focus involved exploring potential opportunities to bridge governance challenges for successful future collaborations–and consequently, improved bilateral ties–between the two countries. Umar Agha shared the content of his course, covering Chinese political and ethical theory, contemporary Chinese politics, and the application of best practices to Pakistan’s political landscape.

The parties acknowledged that the CCLS, as a leading Chinese studies institute operating from within the premier academic institution in the country, is uniquely positioned to spearhead a new era of cooperation with Chinese academia. In the same vein, the state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities offered by LUMS foster a climate of innovation and academic dialogue. Professor Shah and Mr. Zhao Shiren expressed optimism about prospective cultural and academic partnerships fostered by LUMS’ extensive networks and capacity for outreach. They acknowledged the potential for leveraging the excellent faculty and students at LUMS to foster deeper understanding and intellectual exchanges. Expressing hope about Pakistan's future, the parties mutually agreed to continue these exchanges regularly in order to cement current collaborations and spearhead new initiatives, with the end goal of facilitating a prosperous lasting relationship between China and Pakistan.