Shaukat Ali Jawaid
I visited the People’s Republic of China for a week, from May 4th to May 12th, 2025, as part of the efforts being made by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences to promote academic collaboration between Chinese researchers, faculty members, and other healthcare professionals.
The program included a visit to Peking University International Hospital in Beijing and in-depth discussions with the faculty of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. I also visited the Fujian Maternity Hospital and Childbirth Center—an impressive, state-of-the-art Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology affiliated with a medical university. This facility boasts a modern sixteen-story building and serves as a leading international tertiary healthcare institution in Fujian Province, South China besides visiting Shanghai the financial and business capital of China. The trip also involved extensive travel by high-speed train through the countryside of three provinces, allowing me to enjoy the scenic beauty of rural China.
It was a fascinating and, at times, thrilling and exciting experience. However, it was also marked by a few anxious, stressful days and sleepless nights due to the ongoing Indo-Pak conflict. Being stranded in a foreign country, where the language barrier can make communication and travel quite challenging, brought many worrying thoughts.
Revisiting the Imperial Gardens, Summer Palace, and the Forbidden City in Beijing after forty years revived many cherished memories. My first visit to these historic sites was in 1985, at a time when China had just opened its borders to foreign visitors. Overall, it was a truly adventurous journey—one that taught me many valuable lessons for future travel.
During my meetings and discussions with Chinese researchers and faculty, I expressed gratitude to China for its political and economic support for Pakistan’s development. I also assured them that, in a humble effort to reciprocate, we would continue to support Chinese researchers by helping them publish high-quality research papers through an author-friendly policy—without compromising on academic standards.
In the coming weeks, I will be sharing my thoughts and observations, including many stories about the remarkable development I witnessed across various fields, particularly in the healthcare sector.
This was my sixth visit to the People’s Republic of China since 1985. Those interested are welcome to follow along.
