Belt and Road Initiative to Broaden Cultural and Social Ties

‘Pakistan has a very rich cultural heritage and China is the oldest civilization of the world. The Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC, apart from their profound economic impact, will also leave an abiding impact on social and cultural linkage between both neighbors. It is therefore imperative to deepen people-to-people ties through such powerful linkages,” this was underscored by Pakistan’s Consul General to Chengdu, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, while meeting a delegation of students.

A group of students of Southwest Jiaotong University called on the Consul General at the Pakistan mission today and discussed with him the social, cultural, and linguistic impact of Belt and Road Initiative on the region, particularly in deepening Pakistan’s ties with Sichuan province.

The CG asserted that BRI was one of the most important developmental projects of the 21st century and, going forward, will connect billions of people through a network of roads, ports, sea-lanes, ideas, and cyber technology. In the process, it will generate economic opportunities worth trillions of dollars and will be a major step forward in bringing different cultures and people together and help promote understanding amongst cultures.

Mudassir Tipu, while shedding light on two “iron brother’s” history of diplomatic ties, informed the student that in recent years many Confucius Centers had been opened in Pakistan and in various schools and universities of Pakistan Chinese language was being taught. Similarly hundreds of Pakistani students were studying in universities of Sichuan. Such initiatives, he added, will deepen people-to-people ties between Pakistan and China. The CG also said that with wider people-to-people engagement at all levels, it was imperative that translation methods and techniques were improved between people.

The CG highlighted that a vigorous effort was being made by Pakistan to promote tourism ties between Pakistan and West of China and informed the students about the recent opening of Lahore-Kashger Bus service. He invited students to visit Pakistan and explore the country’s inescapable beauty. The CG emphasized that greater tourism, educational, social, and cultural linkages between both countries will help reinforce deep-rooted Pakistan-China ties.

19 December, 2018
Chengdu