SHENZHEN, June 6 : Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, has lauded the outstanding performance of Pakistani students at the Huawei ICT Competition 2025-26 Global Final, saying their success reflects the immense talent, skills and dedication of Pakistan’s youth and highlights the country’s growing potential in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
Talking to APP at the closing ceremony of the global competition in Shenzhen, Ambassador Hashmi congratulated the Pakistani teams for securing awards in four different categories and described their achievement as a source of national pride.
He noted that Pakistan is a youthful nation, with nearly 60 percent of its population of around 250 million people under the age of 30. The students’ success at the prestigious international competition, he said, demonstrates the country’s strong talent pool in emerging technologies and digital innovation.
The ambassador praised Huawei for its continued efforts to promote and nurture young talent, particularly in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He observed that the majority of participants in the global ICT competition came from BRI partner countries, making the event an important platform for developing technological capabilities and strengthening international cooperation.
“Huawei is doing a great job in encouraging talent and providing young people with opportunities to grow professionally and develop technologies that can address complex global challenges,” he said, describing the initiative as a win-win arrangement for both the company and participating countries.
Highlighting the scale and competitiveness of the contest, Ambassador Hashmi said that approximately 12,000 students from across Pakistan applied for this year’s Huawei ICT Competition. After progressing through multiple stages of evaluation and selection, three Pakistani teams qualified for the global finals in Shenzhen.
The teams competed in networking, computing and innovation categories and succeeded in winning awards, reflecting the recognition of merit and excellence among Pakistani youth. He said such achievements serve as a powerful source of inspiration for young people throughout Pakistan and encourage greater participation in science, technology and innovation.
The ambassador emphasized that international competitions of this nature not only reward talent but also provide participants with valuable exposure to advanced technologies and firsthand experience of China’s rapid technological development. Such experiences, he added, help broaden students’ perspectives and enhance their professional capabilities.
Discussing the future of China-Pakistan cooperation in the ICT sector, Ambassador Hashmi expressed optimism and said the prospects are exceptionally bright. He noted that ICT has emerged as a key area of cooperation under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC 2.0), reflecting its growing importance as a driver of economic growth and innovation.
He pointed out that China’s development priorities under its 15th Five-Year Plan align closely with Pakistan’s URAN programme, creating strong convergence in strategic planning, policy objectives and technological development goals. This alignment, he said, provides a solid foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation in digital technologies, innovation and scientific research.
Ambassador Hashmi also highlighted the existence of institutional mechanisms under CPEC, including the Joint Working Group on Information Technology and Science and Technology, which are facilitating collaboration between the two countries. He expressed confidence that these platforms would help accelerate progress and unlock new opportunities in the ICT sector.
He concluded by reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening technology cooperation with China and promoting opportunities for young innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs. He said initiatives such as the Huawei ICT Competition play an important role in building skills, fostering innovation and preparing the next generation of technology leaders in both countries.