GCU celebrates 60 years of Pak-China friendship

The strong and time-tested friendship between Chinese and Pakistan governments need to be applied at the people-to-people level, said the Chinese Ambassador His Excellency Mr. Liu Jian while addressing the celebrations of 60-years Pak-China Friendship at the Government College University Lahore. Punjab Minister Ch Ghafoor, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Ikramul Haq (S.I), Pak-China Bureau Chief Executive Officer Zaffurdin Mahmood and a large member of government dignitaries, eminent Old Ravians, former Pakistani diplomats and international relations experts attended the celebrations organized in collaborations with the Punjab government. The GCU campus was decorated with the flags of Pakistan and China.

The Chinese Ambassador said that the Pakistani premier would visit China in May and this visit would hopefully take Pak-China friendship one-step forward. He said that a Chinese delegation comprising mainstream leaders is also scheduled to visit Pakistan in the end of 2011.

Mr. Liu Jian said that China would fulfill all its commitments with Pakistan in the field of energy, agriculture, and industry and development sector. He said that they would also provide support in rehabilitation of flood-hit areas. Talking about strengthening the people-to-people contact, the Chinese Ambassador said that the youth is the hope of both the countries. He said the objective of celebrating the 2011 as the year of friendship is to inherit this 60-years Pak-China friendship to next generations.

He said that both the governments have also agreed to enhance and expand youth and culture exchange programs. He said that a Chinese youth delegation has recently ended his visit to Pakistan and a Pakistani youth delegation would leave for China soon. Mr. Liu Jian said a delegation of 100 high school boys and girls would also attend Summer Camp in China this year. The Chinese Ambassador earlier kicked off his speech by saying “Asslam-o-Alikum”, which met with loud applause by students and hall resounded with the claps. The Chinese diplomat said that he is moved by seeing young boys and girls waiving off the Chinese flag. He said that it clearly shows the love Pakistani youth have for China.

The Ambassador repeated the words of Chinese premier that “Pak-China is higher than the Himalayas, sweeter than honey and deeper than the ocean.” He said China has 20 direct neighbors but Pakistan is the closest and best friend of China. He said it is not always China, but Pakistan has also helped China at various international avenues and Chinese people would never forget it.

Addressing the celebrations, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Ikramul Haq said that Pakistan should intensify cooperation with China in the field of science and technology, applied science, learning of Chinese and Urdu languages.

He believed that the real change in society comes only through the right kind of education provided by the leading universities working in mainstream higher education sector. He said that the menace of terrorism, poverty and social injustice haunting our nation for last so many decades owes its origin to the neglect of quality education. He requested the Ambassador to play its role in strengthening linkages between universities of Pakistan and China.

Speaking on the occasion, noted scholar and international relations expert Prof. Hassan Askari said that language is the biggest hurdle in establishing strong people-to-people contact between China and Pakistan. He laid a stress on establishing Chinese language teaching centers across the Pakistan. He also highlighted the need for faculty and students exchange programs with Chinese universities.

Prof. Hassan said that China has always shown patience in its relations with Pakistan and never showed any displeasure despite Pakistan’s tilt towards the West. Air Vice Marshall (r) Anwar Mahmood Khan highlighted the role of China in making the defense of Pakistan invulnerable. He said that China gave Pakistan high-tech military weapons when nobody else in the World was ready for that.

Amna Khan from Institute for Strategic Studies criticized Pakistan for perusing its economic goals with China aggressively. She said that signing of dozens of agreement has been viewed as diplomatic victory, however, only a modest percentage of them is implemented. GCU student Kamran Khan said that the unique aspect of Pak-China relationship is that both the countries never interfered in each other’s matters and always understand constraints.

Former foreign secretary Shamshad Khan also addressed the celebrations. Punjab Minister Ch Ghafoor thanked the Ambassador for coming to GCU in Chinese language. He said that only those countries in the world have progressed who have preferred and promoted their National languages and Chinese are one of them. Later, the Chinese Ambassador visited the library of the Government College University Lahore and pledged support for strengthening its computer section.


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