Punjab joins hands with Beijing to promote Chinese language

Students will be sent to China in October to learn the language.

LAHORE: To set up a culture and communication centre, an agreement was signed on Monday between the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) and the Culture and Education Department of the Chinese Overseas Exchange Association.

Under the MoU, Chinese teachers would provide training in Punjab and help compile material for teachers and students in the province. Under the agreement, PHEC staff would be invited to China, while students from the probvince would be invited to a Chinese summer camp. PHEC would select 30 government officials and young entrepreneurs who would take a language preparatory course of one-year.

Furthermore, Chinese language training classes would start in preliminary, junior high, senior high schools and universities of Punjab. For the purpose, the Chinese government would provide five teachers for Punjab.



Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani said the Punjab government would extend all possible cooperation to the Chinese Higher Education department. He added the MoU was an example of the enhanced cooperation with the Chinese, as envisioned by the Punjab chief minister.

More such programmes between Punjab and China were being crafted, he said. Raza told Chinese delegates that they should feel free to discuss any programme of mutual cooperation and the government of Punjab would suppirt them completely. PHEC Chairperson Dr Nizamuddin and Culture and Education Department Director Lei Zhengang signed the MoU.

Dr Nizam said that the MoU would serve as a link between the PHEC and the Chinese Education and Culture Department. He hoped it would help send Pakistani students to China for studies. “This will provide us a chance to reap the benefits of Chinese experience and skills,” he said.

Thge PHEC chairperson added the academic collaboration with the Chinese Overseas Exchange Association would further help launch new collaborative programmes regarding Chinese language, culture and education.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2017.