by Raheela Nazir

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Annoushay Zahra, a 19-year-old medical student from the Pakistani capital Islamabad, was thrilled and excited about the beginning of a new phase of her life in China after receiving the Chinese government scholarship for 2023-2024.

Zahra is one of the dozens of Pakistani students who have recently been awarded fully-funded scholarships by China to study in various top-ranking universities to pursue their graduate, master's, and doctorate degree programs.

With a beaming 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 aspirations.

"As a recipient of the Chinese scholarship, I am so excited about the incredible opportunity. I am 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," she said.

Zaneera Malik, another student who will be pursuing a doctoral degree in China, said other than the aspects of academic knowledge and growth, the scholarship has provided her a unique 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 collaborative efforts of both China and Pakistan would bear fruit in the form of scholars who are empowered to bring positive change to society.

On the sidelines of a send-off ceremony organized by Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) here on Friday, Chairman of HEC Mukhtar Ahmed told Xinhua that Pakistan and China enjoy a long history of relationship and have been cooperating in diverse fields including the education sector for socio-economic development.

These students are going to learn good skills and advanced technology from China, the fastest developing country in the world, he said, adding that after learning best practices adopted 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 cooperation between the two countries, which have continued to expand and deepen to a new historic level.

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, she said. Enditem

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