ISLAMABAD: Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, on Friday stressed that Pakistan and China are working together to promote people-to-people connectivity between the two countries by establishing study centres. Speaking at the event of UN-Chinese Language Day as the chief guest, Yao Jing said the promotion of Chinese language in Pakistan is the new stage of cooperation between the two countries, since language is the most important means for communication, cooperation and connectivity. “In China, there are eight universities working to promote Urdu and12 Pakistan-study centres working to promote the mutual understanding between the two countries,” he said. He congratulated the Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) under the leadership of Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, on the efforts the think-tank platform has made to promote the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and China. “To commemorate the efforts of the institute, on behalf of the Chinese government, we will take 30 Chinese language trainers from PCI to China to promote further cooperation,” he said. The function was organised by PCI at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services, Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, PCI Chairman Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, said that people to people relationships are extremely important. “Last year, during the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), for the first time culture and tourism were included as a part of CPEC,” he said. He further talked about the rising trend of the Chinese language learners and Pakistani university students studying in China. “A total of 25,000 Pakistani students are learning Chinese, 22,000 Pakistanis are studying in China and there are 60,000 Pakistani employees working for Chinese companies and this number is set to rise,” he informed. National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Chinese Studies Centre Director Hassan Javed, in his remarks mentioned how the Chinese Silk route, which is now being described as the Belt & Road Initiative, is important for Pakistan’s history. “The Silk Route converged in Peshawar, where traders from different ethnicities would do business,” he said. He also emphasised the importance of history and culture of the Chinese language. Other speakers at the event included NUST Sinologist Zamir Awan, Confucius Institute Director General Dr Zhang Daojian and PCI Executive Director Mustafa Hyder Sayed who stressed on the soft-power of China ie culture and its importance in a Pakistani context, since the evolution of CPEC. The function was largely attended by think tanks, university professors, students, parliamentarians and media personnel. Published in Daily Times, April 21st 2018.