ISLAMABAD: People’s Republic of China’s citizens consider Pakistanis as their best friends in the world, said Tong Gang, the vice minister of China’s State Administration of Press Publication Radio Film and Television, on Monday.
He was speaking with visiting Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid during a meeting in Dunhuang city of China’s Gansu province, according to a press release issued here. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Silk Road International Cultural Expo being held in Dunhuang.
Rashid thanked the governments of People’s Republic of China and Gansu province for extending a warm welcome and generous hospitality to him and his delegation, and expressed the hope that his visit would further strengthen the existing close friendship between Pakistan and China.
He said that Pakistan was grateful to China for cementing the historic bonds of friendship manifested in the ancient Silk Route. “Our association with the One Belt One Road initiative of China has reinvigorated the ties,” he said. This association, he said, would provide the much needed infrastructure, jobs, integration and all round progress in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan would also facilitate a shorter route to China for access to destinations as far as Europe. He also praised the presence of a large number of Chinese, who were working and contributing constructively towards the development of Pakistan. He said the expanding cooperation in economy and trade between the two countries should be enhanced by matching cooperation in the fields of culture, information, and literature to further cement the ties.
Tong Gang proposed that in order to promote cultural relations with Pakistan, the Chinese government was prepared to start an exchange programme of films and dramas. In this connection, he further proposed that five films and dramas may be selected for exhibition in the initial phase in each other’s countries.
He also proposed exchange of professionals so that films and dramas on themes of shared interest of the two countries could be identified and produced. He said the Chinese government considered Pakistan as a potential market. Rashid welcomed the proposals put forth by the Chinese minister and termed them the road map of future cooperation in the field of culture between the two countries.
“The exchange of films and dramas will help bring Pakistani and Chinese societies closer by enhancing mutual understanding of each other’s cultures, traditions, norms and ways of life,” he said. This was also endorsed by the Chinese vice minister. He also assured Tong Gang that Pakistan would facilitate speedy implementation of the road map.
During the meeting, the Pakistan side was assisted by Director General External Publicity Shafqat Jalil and Press and Culture Attach‚ at Pakistan Embassy Asif-ur-Rehman Khan.
The Chinese vice minister was accompanied by Director General International Cooperation as well as the Deputy Director General of International Cooperation of the Chinese State Administration of Press Publication Radio Film and Television.
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