HYDERABAD: The Chinese Consulate in Karachi and Sindh University Jamshoro have agreed to establish a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Research Centre at SU’s Area Study Centre in order to develop research activities on the campus and strengthen the relationship between both countries through boosting cultural ties between the people of Pakistan – especially in Sindh – and in China. Sindh University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat highlighted the importance of establishing a Confucius Centre at Sindh University in a bid to teach the Chinese language and promote Chinese culture among Pakistani students studying on campus. Dr. Burfatwas talking to the Chinese CG who visited him along with a 2-member delegation at Sindh University’s Area Study Centre. The CG visited the Centre and expressed his pleasure over the establishment of a Chinese corner therein. During the meeting, the Director of the Area Study Centre briefed the guests about the research activities of the Centre and proposed to establish a CPEC Research Centre and a Confucius Centre for teaching the Chinese language and promoting its culture. While talking to the CG and media representatives, the SU vice chancellor Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfatwas, said that he will soon introduce the Chinese language as an optional subject in all departments of the varsity. He believed that a Chinese library was the need of the hour and must be setup at Area Study Centre in order to facilitate the students and scholars with Chinese books. He wished to establish a Research Centre in collaboration with the Chinese Consulate in Karachi since CPEC was a game changer project which will bring prosperity in both the countries. Therefore, he believed a China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Study Centre should also be established at the Sindh University. “We want to learn from Chinese experience of development and progress; therefore, we wish to develop more and more academic links and exchange programs so that we may send our faculty and students to China under such programs”, shared Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat. On the occasion, Chinese CG in Karachi, Wang Yu said the CPEC project began in 2014 and work on the project was underway. Pakistan and China already maintain and enjoy very cordial relations with each other. The CG asserted that both countries share a great deal of cultural similarities, adding that his country had already initiated various cultural exchange programs with Pakistan. “Through these exchange programs, we invite artists, Sindhi musicians, singers and other celebrities from Sindh, Pakistan to China and we encourage Chinese artists to visit Pakistan especially to Sindh province with a view to strengthen our already established cultural ties”.