Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies, Pakistan was signed at Junaid Zaidi Library, COMSATS University Islamabad on February 14th, 2023. The COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) was established in 1998, as COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), as a project of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), which is an inter-governmental organization with 27 member states in three continents: Asia, Africa and Latin America. CIIT had the status of a public sector degree awarding higher education institution and was given charter by the Federal Government in August 2000. Later, CIIT has been upgraded to a Federally Chartered University in April 2018 under the CUI Act 2018. The China Study Centre, since its inception in 2013, aims to offer multidisciplinary research in all realms of Chinese society; together with CPEC specifically and BRI in general. The Centre envisage to prepare a human resource, a natural choice for Chinese enterprises in Pakistan. The acquaintance to Chinese language, culture, and enhancing bilateral relations between both the countries is always main concern of the centre. Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies (IPDS) is an independent, non-governmental and not-for-profit think tank that aims to provide strength to global peace through dialogue and diplomacy by sharing knowledge, research, analysis and policy development in the areas of, Peace, Conflict, Development and Diplomatic Studies.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmed Madani, Registrar, CUI and Muhammad Asif Noor, Director, IPDS. It focuses on joint research collaborations and development of programs to avail government and non-government research fundings, academic publications and trainings to improve the scientific, academic and research level of both the institutions. There will also be an exchange of experienced scholars and promotion of China-Pakistan relations, friends of BRI forum and other important subjects of mutual interests. The exchange of information and opinions on topics related to politics, economics, social and strategic studies, international relations, foreign policy, regional and interregional development and other topics and issues of common interest to both the parties are also part of the memorandum.