The strategic partnership between Pakistan and China would be strengthened by enhancing economic ties and lead to stability, development and peace in the region, said Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Deputy Chairman Sun Hongqi. He was speaking at a seminar organised at Punjab University’s Pakistan Study Centre on Wednesday.
Hongqi said the two countries had a relationship founded on connections between people, and their hearts beat to the same tune. He said the strong relations had been passed from generations to generations. He said Jiangsu, the most developed province of China, and the Punjab had been declared sister provinces twenty years ago. He said cultural connections were important to forge wider economic corridors.
Punjab University Faculty of Arts and Humanities Dean Musarrat Abid said the two countries enjoyed close relations with respect to military and nuclear ties. She said their friendship had been growing over the years because both countries believed in peaceful co-existence.
Wang Nan, the former correspondent of the People’s Daily in Pakistan and adviser and guest professor at the Jiangsu Normal University, stressed Pakistan’s special place in China’s foreign policy. Nan said foreign intervention in the region was not good for South Asia.
Wen Jian, senior research fellow at the Pakistan Research Centre and member of the Music Branch of the Chinese Education Association, played Pakistani national songs on Pipa, a Chinese musical instrument.
The Chinese delegation also visited Jiangsu Cultural Centre in Lahore and toured the historical sites of the city.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2014.