CPEC benefits: Chinese language course starts at KIU

Aims to help locals benefit from economic opportunities offered by course

GILGIT: Karakoram International University (KIU) has started a month-long Chinese language course at its campus in Gilgit.

The course begins just as work on the multi-billion rupee China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC) gets underway, opening up prospects for income generation.

“The course has just been started. In the first phase, 70 students have been registered,” university spokesperson Shahid Shigri told The Express Tribune on Tuesday.



The month-long course has been started in collaboration with the Confucius Institute Headquarters, China and KIU. It aims to produce an educated lot which can converse in Chinese language to benefit from opportunities arising out of CPEC.

“The course will be taught by Chinese teachers with expertise in the language,” the official said about the course, which was also attended by KIU faculty members, government officials and students.

The course was formally kicked off on Monday after a ceremony attended by Confucius Institute Headquarters Dean Yang Jiangzie, KIU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Asif, and other government functionaries.

According to Shigri, a proposal to set up a branch of the Confucius Institute in KIU is also under consideration.

Confucius Institute Headquarters was set up by the government of China to meet global demand for Chinese language learning, which has increased as China’s economy and exchanges with the world saw rapid growth.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2016.