Islamabad, September 8, 2025(Kamran Raja): Further advancing its international partnerships, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), one of China’s premier think-tanks with a strong global reputation for policy-oriented research.
The MoU was concluded on the sidelines of the “High-level Seminar on Development and Cooperation between China and South Asian Countries” held in Shanghai, which brought together scholars, experts, and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary global and regional challenges.
The agreement was signed by Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI, and Professor Chen Dongxiao, President SIIS, in the presence of senior officials and scholars from both institutions.
The MoU establishes a framework for long-term cooperation between ISSI and SIIS, covering joint research projects, policy dialogue, academic exchanges, co-publications, and participation in seminars and conferences on issues of mutual interest at regional and global levels.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood emphasized the importance of enhanced academic and intellectual engagement between Pakistan and China, particularly in the context of profound geopolitical and geo-economic transformations. He noted that the MoU would provide a solid foundation for sustained collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the two institutions.
Professor Chen Dongxiao welcomed the signing of the MoU and reaffirmed SIIS’s commitment to strengthening research collaboration with ISSI across a wide spectrum of themes. He observed that closer academic linkages would further enrich China–Pakistan relations and contribute to a deeper understanding of shared challenges and opportunities.
The ISSI–SIIS partnership marks an important step in reinforcing scholarly and policy-oriented exchanges between Pakistan and China. It is expected to contribute significantly to bilateral understanding and regional dialogue through collaborative research, joint publications, and academic cooperation.