ISLAMABAD: China Radio International (CRI) Roots Millennium Confucius Classroom in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy and Cultural Office organised a Chinese New Year and Spring Festival at the One World Campus. Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, Cultural Office Education Director and CRI Confucius Classroom Pakistan Director Chen Xiang attended the ceremony, which also saw the inauguration of CRI-Millennium Roots Confucius Classroom Library at the Roots Millennium Schools’ One World Campus. The ambassador was warmly welcomed by Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq at the venue. He witnessed various traditional performances by young millennials. The Chinese teaching faculty graced the entire show which displayed skill and confidence of the students and he enjoyed the spirit of festivity that was exhibited by the learners of various age groups. Speaking to the millennials about the Chinese Language Department, Yao Jing shared his views about the upcoming events in the year. He said that students must think freely and they should be engaged in physical activities which play a key role in a child’s mental and physical growth. “In 2009, I was present on the launching of Chinese language initiative by Roots Millennium Schools. This Chinese language initiative has blossomed and the Millennium Roots Schools have strengthened with the growing number of students learning Chinese language,” he said. “We must stay devoted to achieve our dreams as nothing is impossible to achieve in life. Chinese Embassy wishes Roots Millennium Schools Happy New Year with opportunities and initiatives,” he said, while emphasising on providing scholarship and exchange programmes for students. CRI-Roots Confucius Classroom offers Chinese language classes across the Roots Millennium Schools, in the private sector, with the aim of allowing the students to speak and write Chinese as proficiently as possible. Millennium Chinese Language Department has now 18 full time teachers and nearly 8,500 students learning Chinese. This has promoted cultural, social, business and educational opportunities among China and Pakistan for the benefit of the future generations. Published in Daily Times, March 4th 2018.