Pakistan, China maintain close ties in cultural exchanges: Yao Jing

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing on Thursday said that Pakistan and China are not only friendly neighbours but also two major ancient civilizations that have maintained close ties in cultural exchanges and mutual learning.

The ambassador went on to say that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1951, the two countries have made great efforts to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation, adding that the Cultural Cooperation Agreement between Pakistan and China was signed in March 1965.

The envoy said that during her official visit to China in February this year, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb signed the executive programme of the cultural agreement for 2018-2022 with Minister of Culture and Tourism of China Luo Shugang, which outlines the overall framework for Pak-China cultural exchanges and cooperation in the next five years.

Yao Jing said that in 2018, the CPEC cultural caravan was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Information of Pakistan. “Artists from Pakistan and China carried out a series of exchange activities along the ancient Silk Road and CPEC construction sites. This further strengthened Pak-China friendship, and promoted the mutual understanding of our two peoples.”

He also said that the Pakistani government attaches importance to the development of broadcasting and film industry, adding that Pakistan and China are maintaining close communication and coordination and actively expanding exchanges and cooperation in this area.

“Film industry is booming in both the countries and China will adopt measures to further cooperate with Pakistan in this field, including introducing Pakistani films to Chinese film festivals, importing Pakistani films into Chinese cinema lines, and promoting the film companies of the two countries to jointly produce film and television programmes,” Jing said.