ISLAMABAD: Renowned Pakistani journalist Dr Irfan Ashraf has been awarded the Outstanding Participant Award by the Public Diplomacy Association of China at the China International Press Communication Center (CIPCC) 2025.
The award was conferred during the closing ceremony of CIPCC 2025 in Beijing, which was attended by China’s Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs as the chief guest. Dr Irfan Ashraf was selected for the award from among participants belonging to Asia-Pacific countries, marking a notable achievement for Pakistan on an international platform.
He was nominated by the Government of Pakistan in August 2025 to participate in the CIPCC programme, which is organised under the auspices of the China Public Diplomacy Association.
The CIPCC 2025 programme focused on an in-depth study of China’s governance system, poverty and unemployment alleviation, industrial development, agriculture, education, tourism, healthcare, foreign policy, and the role of media. In addition to academic lectures, participants also undertook study visits to various Chinese provinces to observe governance and development models firsthand.
A total of 103 journalists and political figures from 93 countries participated in the programme.
Speaking informally after the ceremony, Dr Irfan Ashraf dedicated the award to his parents and the people of Pakistan, stating that it was a moment of pride to represent the country at such a prestigious international forum. He reaffirmed that Pakistan–China friendship would continue to grow stronger.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025