Enhancing bilateral ties: Chinese diplomat aims to broaden cultural understanding

Announces special performance by Chinese artists in Islamabad next week

China’s new cultural councilor to Pakistan has expressed plans to enhance bilateral and cultural cooperation between the people of the two countries.

In this regard he announced that the Chinese Embassy will hold a mega cultural performance in Islamabad next week.

“I love the good people of Pakistan and pledge to work relentlessly enhancing bilateral and cultural cooperation and promoting mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and Chinese nation through broadening cultural understanding between the two countries,” Cultural Councilor You Yi said in a statement on Friday.

Yi arrived in Pakistan for his new diplomatic assignment just two weeks ago, having previously served as a diplomat in Finland, Canada, USA, Netherlands and Ethopia.

“I am very happy to come to Pakistan and consider Pakistan as my second home,” he said.



Highlighting the deep friendship between the two countries, Yi said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a manifestation of that friendship.

“Beijing and Islamabad have been close partners for decades. The CPEC is a reflection of intensified and expanded bilateral cooperation at a time of rising Chinese geopolitical ambition and persistent concerns about Pakistan’s security and development,” he said.

“Eventually, the CPEC will also facilitate trade along an overland route that connects China to the Indian Ocean, linking the Chinese city of Kashgar to the port of Gwadar.”

On this occasion, Yi announced that the Chinese Culture Office in Islamabad is organising a number of events to mark the 67th national day of China across Pakistan. The main show will be a performance of Chinese songs, dances and artistic shows by a cultural troupe at the Pakistan National Council of Arts in Islamabad on September 28.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2016.