The first lady said China is celebrating ‘Year of the Monkey’, which is symbolic for prosperity. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Confucius Institute at National University of Modern Languages (NUML) Islamabad held a colourful Chinese Lantern Festival on Friday.
Chinese Embassy First Lady Bao Jiqing was chief guest at the ceremony. She said the institute was playing a pivotal role in promoting Chinese culture in Pakistan. She said that people of China used to celebrate lantern festivals with their families, and added that “as Pakistan is my second home, I feel like I am with my family”.
She said China is celebrating ‘Year of the Monkey’, which is symbolic for prosperity. She added that bilateral relations with Pakistan will be further enhanced, and that cultural activities will also be geared up to promote Chinese language and culture in the country.
Chinese Embassy Cultural Counselor Zheng Guojin, NUML Director-General Brig Riaz Ahmed Gondal, senior varsity officials, students from the various educational institutions, and a large number of people attended the gathering.
NUML DG Brig Ahmed Gondal said the institute was taking the lead in promoting Chinese culture. He said NUML is proud to be the part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He said under CPEC, the NUML International Centre of Education (NICE) will be set up in Xinjiang Normal University, China, to teach Chinese international languages along with Urdu and English.
He said NUML is a unique institute in which more than 25 languages are being taught. At the event, students had also presented colourful programs related to the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2016.
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