BEIJING: The party secretary of Chinese Ministry of Culture Zhang Aiping said on Thursday that the 2011 has 'great and historical significance' as this year Pakistan and China are celebrating 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties.
Addressing the inauguration of week-long Pakistan Culture exhibition in coordination with Chinese Ministry of Culture, as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations of establishment of Pakistan and China diplomatic ties, Zhang said that Premier Wen Jiabao and Pakistani leadership had decided to declare 2011 as year of friendship. "In this special year, we are glad to witness the opening of Pakistan Culture Exhibition here in China". he noted.
He said that "China and Pakistan are all weather strategic partners and over the past six decades since the forging of diplomatic ties our two countries have enjoyed sound development of friendly relations, culture exchanges and high level visits".
Particularly since 1980, Zhang said that the two countries have witnessed a great boost in culture exchange and cooperation and increasingly enhanced friendship between two peoples. Terming the culture exchange as 'bridge' Zhang said it connect the hearts of the peoples of the two countries and ensure better understanding and brought us closer and closer .
"I hope that the culture exchange and cooperation between China and Pakistan will continue to expand under the support and attention of people from all walks of life and inject a new vigour and vitality in our joint endeavour in future", he noted.
Wishing full success for the exhibition, he said that it will provide an ample opportunity to understand the history of sixty years of China, Pakistan diplomatic relations.
Ambassador Masood Khan, addressing the gathering, largely attended by diplomats, scholars, students, teachers and art lovers, said that the leaderships of both Pakistan and China have made a conscious effort to expand cultural, sporting, and people-to-people interactions in a comprehensive manner.
"We want to broaden the interface between the universities, think tanks, academic institutions, mass media, film and television networks because these are the most effective vehicles of communications in our times", Khan noted.
He said that the establishing a Confucius Institute by China in Islamabad has become a popular portal for promoting cultural understanding between Pakistan and China.
The Centre has been such a success that there is growing demands for the setting up of similar centres in other parts of Pakistan. Terming civilizations as 'cradles of cultures' Ambassador Khan said that Chinese and Pakistani civilizations have a natural meeting point.
"Our growing cultural ties underpin our strategic ties and political solidarity," he said and added that "for ensuring the longevity of this relationship and its transmission to our future generations, it is important that we intensify cultural interaction".
He on the occasion appreciated the efforts of Cultural Attache of Pakistan Embassy Danyal Gilani for making the exhibition a success. Before the inauguration ceremony Ambassador Masood Khan held a detailed meeting with Mr. Zhang in which both sides agreed to further expand the culture programme.
A large number of artifices, paintings, photographs depicting Pakistani culture and visits of top leadership to each other counties during past six decades, were seen with keen interest by the visitors belong to all segments of society.
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