ISLAMABAD: President of Pak-China Global Cultural Link Dr Li Yi has said that the next stage of China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would focus expansion of cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts.
“Public diplomacy is the need of the hour, and we shall promote it through cultural activities in both the countries,” said the Chinese scholar while talking at a closing ceremony of first Chinese traditional culture and creative exhibition titled ‘Chinese Culture IP Exhibition’ held here at PNCA.
Dr Li said that under social sector health cooperation, we would focus education, poverty alleviation and human resource development. He said that Pakistan and China are time-tested and all-weather friends and promotion of culture between the two countries will further deepen relations at people-to-people level.
Dr Li was of the view that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming visit to China is very important which will pave way for further cooperation and opening up of economic opportunities for the benefit of the two close friendly countries.
Dr Li said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would bring prosperity to the whole region and CPEC is a great project which has the potential to become a game changer.
“During the forthcoming visit of PM Imran Khan to China, second phase of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be signed which has come to its final phase after eight-year negotiation process,” he added.
The Chinese scholar said that Pakistan and China are closest friends and ally and their friendship is quoted as an example. He said first cultural protocol between the two friendly countries was signed late back in 1965 and since then we have been doing many more cultural initiatives.
He said an executive four-year cultural programme was initiated in 2018 under which numbers of initiatives have taken place. He said it is indeed a delightful moment to inaugurate first China culture and creative exhibition.
“China values the friendship with Pakistan and I am grateful for kind and generous hospitality offered to my delegation. Pakistan and China have deeper cooperation under the CPEC. High level exchanges and visits of Pakistan and China leaderships gave us a kind of direction and momentum for more cooperation,” he added.
Dr Li Yi said that Pakistan and China would cooperate for the betterment not only for our two nations but also to the communities and all other nations of this region as well as for this world. He thanked the Ministry of National History and Literary Heritage and PNCA for cooperating in organising the exhibition.
The PNCA Director General Syed Jamal Shah said culture was the best possible communication. He congratulated the Embassy of China for organising the oriented charm exhibition. He said this interaction would become very enable platform for us.
During the opening ceremony at the event, a launching ceremony of findings stars in the desert and Chinese idiom stories in Urdu were also screened. The students and performing arts group PNCA also presented Chinese and Pakistan traditional dance performances.
Stalls of traditional culture and creative art work were displayed at the exhibition. The PNCA Director General, Syed Jamal Shah, distributed awards and certificates among the participants.
