President of the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), Moazzam Ghurki has suggested the establishment of a cultural corridor between the two countries through the setting up of a Pakistan-China Cultural Exchange Programme. He said that cultural cooperation between the two countries was essential for the success of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He made the suggestion while speaking at a think tank session at the PCJCCI Secretariat. Ghurki said that cultural cooperation between the two countries was essential for the success of their economic cooperative enterprise. “This can be achieved through the establishment of dedicated centers in major cities across the country,” he said. He added that he would advocate for the setting up the Pak-China Cultural Corridor at the highest forums possible.

Senior Vice President of the PCJCCI, Fang Yulong, appreciated the suggestion from Ghurki and said that it will improve people-to-people contacts and work to broaden the horizon of the partnership between the two brotherly countries. Vice President of PCJCCI, Hamza Khalid, informed the audience that 18,000 Pakistani students were studying in China. He said these students acted as an important bridge between the two countries.

He added that although Pakistan and China belonged to different cultures and civilisations, it did not mean that they should be confrontational, but rather, they could be cooperative in nature. He continued, “the ultimate goal for cultures and civilisations is dialogue, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, harmony, and shared growth. Diversity spurs interaction among civilisations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and understanding.”

Secretary General of PCJCCI, Salahuddin Hanif for his part laid emphasis on the need for collaboration between the media houses of the two countries. He said that Pakistani and Chinese collaboration in creative arts like cinema, theatre and music will help in the long-term development of these industries for global competition. He added that Pakistan had the potential to become the safest place for investment with Chinese collaboration in all fields of trade, industry and culture.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk