China and Pakistan are exchanging their cultural values, norms and patterns with the initiative of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC is the latest venture in the history of bilateral economic cooperation. Culture refers to the ways of life of a society or of groups within a society. It includes how they dress, their marriage customs, language, family life, their patterns of work, religious ceremonies and leisure pursuits. Cultural relations are more neutral and comprehensive between China and Pakistan. This has been especially true under President Xi Jinping, marking the revival of the Silk Road, that the cultural exchanges between the ‘iron brothers’ have met new momentum. The Belt and Road Summit held in Beijing in May 2017 as well as the 19th plenary session of the Communist Party of China emphasised the need for cultural exchange and people to people ties. CPEC, as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), both countries have once again embarked on a journey for colourful cultural exchange.
The purpose of cultural relations is not necessarily to seek a one-sided advantage. The most effective purpose of this project is to achieve understanding and co-operation between national societies for their mutual benefit. Chinese and Pakistanis are exchanging socio-economic patterns to promote mutual understanding, exchanging both material and non-material culture. In material culture China and Pakistan are exchanging products, commodities and resources with each other. In non -material culture involves food, language, dress, religion and living patterns. So, this proves that economic development also gave strength to the social ties and bounds between two nations and their friendship become flourishing.
Pakistan has also actively participated in different cultural activities. Jamal Shah, the director of Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA), came with their delegation and participated in Xinjiang Cultural festival, PNCA given numerous performances which reflected the rich culture of Pakistan.
Chinese and Pakistanis are exchanging socio-economic patterns to promote mutual understanding, exchanging both material and non-material culture
The tendency of sharing cultural activities between China and Pakistan is increasing day by day like a storm. During a field survey, a respondent had the view, “He is too much inspired by Chinese work ethics and working hours. They care for the life security of the local labour, working hours are the same as Chinese labour, if they work extra time, they are paid extra money for the extra work”. Pakistani students are making progress in China’s best universities and carrying their cultural traits, patterns, norms and values. Every year on cultural days, Pakistani student present their culture. Similarly, in China everyone knows about Pakistan, a local shopkeeper or taxi driver know about China-Pakistan friendship. When they know, we are from Pakistan, the first word they use in Chinese (haopenguou) meaning good friends. Local people from both countries take pride in this friendship.
Food is a pillar in cultural and people to people relation between China and Pakistan. Chinese who are living in Pakistan, enjoy Pakistan food and spices. During the interviews, “A Chinese respondent said, they are in love with chicken biryani, chapati and chicken. Pakistani most of the time bring food from their homes for their Chinese co-workers. Chinese are of the view that Pakistanis are very hospitable people. Even they have not enough earning resources, but they are always ready to feed people in a good way. As contrast to Pakistani workers are working with Chinese has view, they always share their food and introduce Chinese food to them. At larger scales there are some Chinese restaurants opened in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. These restaurants provide the same taste food which is available in China. Similar, Pakistani food restaurants are also found in the big cities of China where we can find the same Pakistani food. Another positive effect of CPEC that Chinese and Pakistani individuals are marrying each other. Before initiation of CPEC, Pakistani male students married to Chinese girls. Most of the couples lived in China and earning money together. But now Chinese males are working in Pakistan in different projects marrying Pakistani women and living with them in Pakistan. It is taking a beginning of new bond between two diverse cultures. This is new cultural wave taken place in China and Pakistan. Even, when we visit the big cities in Pakistan, we do not see the faces of Americans, but we see Chinese people everywhere in Pakistan.
Chinese language has replaced English as the language of job opportunities in Pakistan. Chinese language and history are also getting strong attention in Pakistani academic courses. The University of Agricultural Faisalabad opened a Chinese language institute, attract the number of students to learn Chinese language. Even most of the students passed their HSK score and then applied in Chinese universities, which enhanced their chances of admission in China. Even at local areas, the workers who learnt Chinese language from their employees, teach language at their small towns or villages. And same thing is happening with Chinese workers that they are learning Urdu and other local languages of Pakistan.
We cannot understand culture without knowing their material and non-material aspect of each other’s culture. With the CPEC both countries interact with each other and understand their lives, motivations, concerns and interests. CPEC is a powerful human tool to inherit both cultures, develop a new pattern of society and add new knowledge in Pakistan and Chinese societies.
The wrter is a PhD scholar in School of Sociology and Anthropology in Sun Yat-sen University, China. She is working on Socio-Economic impacts of CPEC
Published in Daily Times, March 25th 2019.