Yao Jing says China keen to work with PTI-led govt

• Another 140 students get Chinese scholarships

DIPLOMATIC CORNER: China’s Ambassador Yao Jing has said that the Chinese government is ready and keen to carry forward the bilateral cooperation to promote Sino-Pakistan relations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led new coalition government.

Talking to Pakistan Today here at the Chinese Embassy, he said that he was impressed by ‘Naya Pakistan’ during his recent meeting with Prime Minister-designate Imran Khan. “I was excited to know the vision he (Imran) carries about Pakistan’s future cooperation with China,” he said.

Asked whether there was any schedule by Imran Khan to visit China after his oath-taking next week, Yao Jing said that the Chinese Embassy was working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to plan such a visit. He said that the people of Pakistan reposed confidence in Imran Khan and the China would extend full cooperation to the new government in all fields.

“Pakistan and China have deep-rooted and time-tested relations. I hope that the bilateral relations between Islamabad and Beijing would further strengthen and flourish in days to come,” he said. During his meeting, he said that Imran Khan had said that Pakistan was eager to learn China’s experience in good governance, anti-corruption, poverty alleviation, environmental protection, innovation, industrialisation and urbanisation.

Ambassador Yao Jing said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a long-term project and its scope would be expanded to benefit all parts of Pakistan. To another question, he said that his meeting with nominated Finance Minister Asad Umar was focused on economic cooperation.

140 SCHOLARSHIPS: The Chinese government has awarded another 140 scholarships to Pakistani students providing them an opportunity to obtain higher education from bachelors to PhD programme from top Chinese universities.

At a ceremony held here at the Chinese Embassy, the admission letters for availing the scholarships were handed over to the students who were given scholarships on the recommendations of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The event was attended by Ambassador Yao Jing, Deputy Chief of Mission Lijian Zhao, HEC executive director and representative of the ministry. The students will get education in different fields at various Chinese universities, including computer science and technology, business administration, finance, physical chemistry, architecture, civil engineering, broadcasting communication, international law, journalism and others, covering bachelor and masters programmes, PHD and advanced training programmes.

While congratulating the winners for the scholarship for 2018/2019 academic year, the ambassador hoped that they would act as goodwill ambassadors of their country while studying in China. He said that the students should serve as a bridge to further strengthen the brotherly relationship.

The Chinese scholarship programme is a government-to-government undertaking aimed at benefiting students of all the regions of Pakistan like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar along with some other cities and towns. On this occasion, Lijian Zhao thanked the ministry and HEC for cooperation.

He said that total scholarships offered to Pakistani students this year had reached to 7000. Presently, he said various universities, local government and state-owned companies were also offering the scholarships to the Pakistani students. At present, he said that many students were getting an education in various disciplines.