Breaking barriers: Sino-foreign team wins with accessible medical solutions

A cross-university team of Pakistani and Chinese doctoral students claimed a medal in the Red Tourism Track at the 2025 China International College Students Innovation Competition, held on Tuesday. Their entrepreneurial project — aimed at making quality medical products accessible in developing countries — stood out for its vision and impact.

The partnership between Muheet (Li Xiang), a Pakistani youth, and Xiao Xilin from Hefei University of Technology was praised by judges as "a perfect fusion of soft skills and hard technology". With seven years of experience in the medical device markets of China and Pakistan, Muheet brings deep insight into the urgent need for affordable healthcare solutions in developing nations. Xiao, on the other hand, contributes cutting-edge R&D expertise and robust supply-chain support rooted in China's technological strength.

"In Pakistan, many families struggle to afford basic medical equipment due to high costs," Muheet noted. "Chinese products not only offer reliable quality but are also far more accessible." Their project aims to break the monopoly of European and American manufacturers by introducing high-quality, cost-effective Chinese medical devices such as blood glucose monitors to Belt and Road countries.

Having spent seven years studying at Nanchang Hangkong University, Muheet has grown from a young international student into a youth ambassador fostering China-Pakistan cooperation. "Nanchang, Jiangxi is my second home," he said warmly. "China and Pakistan are 'iron brothers'. I want the world to see through my experience that Chinese innovation is providing real answers to global challenges."

For Xiao, the medal marks a fitting conclusion to his Master's and PhD journey. "From lab research to market application, this collaboration has shown me the true value of innovation — it must be tangible and bring warmth to people's lives," he reflected.

A single competition, one medal — yet together, they reflect a new generation's borderless sense of responsibility and ingenuity. Through their efforts, these young pioneers are proving that when ideals meet action, innovation can truly bring the light of better health within everyone's reach.