Lahore: A new milestone in China-Pakistan cooperation in pharmaceutical research and traditional medicine was marked at Punjab University, where the College of Pharmacy (PUCP) and the Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine jointly unveiled the Medicinal Resources Research and Development Platform. The unveiling ceremony was attended by PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, President of the China Pakistan Medical Association Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz, Mr. Li Xiao, representing the Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine and CPMA, Dean Prof Dr Hamid Saeed, Principal PUCP Prof Dr Nasir Abbas, Director ORIC Prof Dr Aqil Inam, Prof. Furqan Hashmi, faculty members, researchers and other distinguished guests, also participated in the event.

According to University of the Punjab, PU VC Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of strengthening international academic partnerships in pharmaceutical sciences, medicinal resources, and research. He expressed support for collaborative research and knowledge exchange between Pakistani and Chinese institutions, emphasizing the potential of such cooperation to contribute to innovation, education, and healthcare development. Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz highlighted the establishment of the platform as an important step toward building sustainable institutional cooperation between Pakistan and China in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. He pointed out the need to connect academic research with practical applications, including medicinal-resource development, scientific research, education, technology transfer, and future industrial collaboration. Mr. Li Xiao reaffirmed the Academy's commitment to strengthening collaboration with Pakistani universities and professional organiz ations.

The participants discussed opportunities for joint research, academic exchanges, scientific training, development and evaluation of medicinal resources, traditional medicine research, pharmaceutical innovation, and technology transfer. The platform is expected to facilitate closer interaction among researchers, academics, and pharmaceutical-sector stakeholders from Pakistan and China. The leadership and representatives of both sides expressed their full support for the initiative, describing the unveiling as a significant development and a new chapter in China-Pakistan cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. The ceremony concluded with a shared commitment to further strengthen institutional linkages and transform the platform into a mechanism for meaningful research collaboration, capacity building, and innovation. The initiative also reflects the broader spirit of China-Pakistan friendship by bringing together academic institutions, healthcare professionals, and research organizations to explore new opport unities for cooperation in medicine and pharmaceuticals. The Medicinal Resources Research and Development Platform is envisioned as a bridge connecting the scientific and academic communities of Pakistan and China and contributing to the development of modern pharmaceutical research while promoting cooperation in traditional and complementary medicine.