CPEC a huge step towards prosperity: Chinese diplomat

Chinese Counsel General Lahore Long Dingbin has said that China and Pakistan are enjoying deepened and time-tested relations that will be further flourished, especially in the fields of agriculture, education. He was addressing a meeting held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) in which all UAF deans and directors participated. The meeting was chaired by UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.
The Counsel General said that the agriculture ties had become one of the priority areas of collaboration between the two countries. He said that the Punjab had been blessed with fertile land and it is producing agricultural products of the good quality. He added that the mangoes of the province were famous around the globe due to its taste and aroma. He was of the view that although Pakistan is moving towards industrialisation but the agriculture was the base for the development and prosperity.
Terming the UAF, a University of Innovations, he said that the University had played a pivotal role in the development and uplift of the agriculture sector. He told the audience that China had established two Confucius Institutes one at UAF and the other one at the Punjab University. The institutes are meant for further flourishing the relations by producing the people having the knowledge of Chinese language and culture that will bring the people further closer. He said that Urdu language is being taught at various Chinese Universities.
He said that China was giving many scholarships to the Pakistan nationals for the knowledge exchanges and benefit of the people. He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was a hallmark step towards the uplift and prosperity. He added that peoples of China and Pakistan are like brothers who were enjoying the long lasting ties which are deeper than the ocean and higher than the mountains.
Earlier, Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the 36 UAF faculty members had obtained degrees from the China whereas nine are pursuing their degree from China. He said that the China was having the biggest share of the UAF foreign qualified faculty. He suggested establishment of Pakistan-China Agriculture Park at the UAF that will help address the issue of the farming community. He said that UAF academic ties with Chinese universities are being boosted to get benefit from each other experience. He said Chinese universities were proving their mettle globally in every filed. He added the country will witness an economic turnaround that would help ensure sustainable development due to CPEC. He said that the UAF was enjoying the good relationship with the Chinese Universities including Xinjiang Agriculture University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) China. He said that seven UAF faculty members have sent for studies last year in FAFU whereas ten more be sent this year.