The China-Pakistan Friendship Car Rally with 52 Chinese participants reached Quaid-i-Azam’s Mausoleum on Saturday. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS
The rally, which also includes a troupe of Chinese dancers, started their journey in Yinchuan, the capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on September 24, and entered the port city at 5am on Saturday from National Highway, where District Malir administration welcomed them by showering rose petals on them amid loud cheers.
The China-Pakistan Friendship Car Rally, sponsored by the government of the Ningxia Hui and automotive manufacturer Faw, travelled hundreds of kilometres before entering Pakistan through the 4,693-metre-high Khunjerab Pass on October 14.
On Saturday, rally headed to the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum and then to Mohatta Palace before visiting Sea View in Clifton.
Another passenger of the rally, Li Jing, who belongs to the Ningxia province of China, said that he ‘did not find Pakistan a very strange place’. Talking to The Express Tribune on their visit to the Mohatta Palace, he said that in his hometown, there are around 3,000 mosques and a lot of Muslims. “Pakistan is a wonderful place,” he said, adding that the people of the country are extremely kind and amazingly friendly.
For Karachi, he said that it is a very special Muslim city. “I showed all my friends in China the pictures of Pakistan and Karachi in particular,” he said, adding that he is convincing them to visit the beautiful port city. “The government of both the countries should draft such policies that more and more tour groups of the two countries visit each other.”
Chi Xuesong, another participant of the rally, shared that he has been to 40 countries in the world but found that Pakistan was the most amazing. He said that the people of Pakistan are honest and that’s what makes them stand out among other nations.
A young woman, Fang Qi, donning a kurta embellished with Sindhi embroidery, said that she found Pakistani dresses amazing and that is the reason she is wearing one. “I am definitely taking lots of Pakistani dresses back with me,” she said.
Another young, energetic participant, Wong, said that he believes Karachi is a vibrant, modern city and he loves the versatility that the city has to offer. “The contemporary art galleries in the city are amazing,” he said, adding that the foreign media is a little misleading about the people of Pakistan who he found to be extremely warm.
Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said that he hopes that all the projects are completed smoothly and successfully, which would be beneficial for both the countries.
The rally, after visiting Gwadar, will then cross into Iran before heading to the Middle East.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 23rd, 2016.
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