What happened
A tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Beijing among China Shandong Tongshan Group, Riphah International University (RIU) from Pakistan and the China Pakistan Medical Association (CPMA), the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, citing CEN.
The agreement was signed by Li Xiao, chairman of China Shandong Tongshan Group; Hassan Muhammad Khan, chancellor of RIU; and Dr Muhammad Shahbaz, president of CPMA. The three signatories said they recognised the shared importance of cooperation in medical education, research, healthcare services and international collaboration.
What the agreement covers
Under the MoU, the stated objectives include promoting academic and professional collaboration in medical and health sciences, facilitating joint initiatives in medical tourism between China and Pakistan, developing capacity-building programmes through education, training and research, encouraging technology transfer and innovation in healthcare, and strengthening bilateral relations through institutional partnerships.
The three parties will also explore establishing an international campus of RIU in China, focused on medical education, joint degree programmes and research collaboration.
In parallel, the agreement provides for a Traditional Chinese Medicine Academy at Riphah International University in Pakistan. The academy is to be designed to align with World Health Organization standards and accreditation frameworks, with an emphasis on integrative medicine that combines traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical practice.
Why it matters
The MoU adds a health and medical-education strand to Pakistan-China institutional cooperation and, if implemented, would create a formal channel for joint degrees, research and medical tourism between the two countries. The report was based on the signing parties’ description of the agreement; no implementation timeline or funding figures were disclosed.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published material, not independent reporting. Source reviewed on 2026-05-06.
- Primary source — Associated Press of Pakistan: “Tripartite MoU signed to boost China-Pakistan medical cooperation”6 May 2026 · Reports the signatories, the stated objectives of the MoU, the proposed RIU campus in China and the planned Traditional Chinese Medicine Academy in Pakistan.
