ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a project of shared destiny for regional development and prosperity. Addressing the opening ceremony of the CPEC Cultural Caravan Festival at PNCA on Sunday, the minister said that relations between Pakistan and China were rooted in mutual respect and love and the friendship between the two countries had become an indelible and important part of Pakistan’s history. She said that the CPEC was also a corridor of cultural harmony between China and Pakistan and people-to-people contact. For the successful implementation of the development project it was also imperative to know and understand each other’s culture, she said, adding that Pakistan had signed cultural accords with China, which would enhance cooperation between the two countries in the domain of films, theater, press, publications and related fields, besides promotion of cultures. Artists, she added, had a sterling role in projecting Pakistan’s identity as a moderate and peaceful country. Artists and democracy had deep links with each other, she said, adding that during the democratic era the creative abilities of artists and journalists gained strength. Marriyum said that the CPEC Cultural Caravan would help present Pakistan as a peaceful and emerging country before the comity of nations. She said that the CPEC was a key ingredient of the OBOR vision. The minister said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had launched the CPEC for the progress and prosperity of the posterity in 2013. She expressed the hope that the CPEC would be successfully completed within its stipulated timeframe and it would usher in an era of prosperity not only for China and Pakistan but also for the entire region. She said that the journey of the CPEC Cultural Caravan from China to Gawadar had been properly documented and the CPEC would also help in cultural exchanges between the two countries. Marriyum said that the success of development plans was linked to the participation of the people. She said that Pakistan was grateful to Chinese government and President Xi Jin Ping, who personally came to Pakistan to inaugurate the CPEC. The minister informed the audience that Pakistan would participate in the film festival in Beijing and Shanghai for the first time and Pakistani movies would be screened in the Chinese cinemas. Published in Daily Times, February 26th 2018.