The Pakistani embassy at China in Beijing held a food and culture festival at the state-of-the-art Silk Road Arts and Culture Center in the town of Langfang, an hour’s drive from Beijing, on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence.
The two-day festival aimed to showcase Pakistan’s rich history, beautiful landscapes, cultural heritage, products, handicrafts, literature, and traditional cuisine. More than 300 people attended the opening ceremony, including Chinese dignitaries, government officials, business people, members of the diplomatic corps, media representatives, and the Pakistani community.
At the opening ceremony, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque said Pakistan’s 75th independence anniversary is a historic milestone for Pakistan, which is now the fifth-largest country with 220 million talented and hardworking people. He pointed to Pakistan’s strengths as an investment and tourism destination and invited Chinese people to visit Pakistan next year, which will be celebrated as the Year of Tourism Exchange.
The Ambassador also spoke at length about the special friendship and iron brotherhood between China and Pakistan that has stood the test of time. He hopes the festival will help promote cultural cooperation and personal exchanges between the two countries.
Ambassador Sha Zukang, chairman of the China-Pakistan Friendship Association, said Pakistan and China have a long history of friendly relations and the two countries have helped each other through difficult times. He expressed confidence that the all-time friendship between the two peoples will continue to deepen in the future.
Ms. Li Xiaofei, CEO of Ennova Culture Group, welcomed the audience and stressed the significance of the festival. Several activities were held during this festival including cultural performances, an exhibition of Pakistani products and handicrafts, a photo exhibition, games for children, and famous Pakistani dishes.
A special art activity for children was also held to mark the occasion, during which a large painting was made which symbolized China-Pakistan friendship. A virtual reality booth offered virtual tours of Lahore Fort and Saif ul Malook Lake. Two famous films “Parvaz hai Junoon” and the animated film “Allahyar” as well as the legends of “Markhor” were screened at the festival.
DOCUMENTARIES ON PAKISTAN INDEPENDENCE
Four of the seven mini-documentaries will be released on Chinese social media platforms this week by the Pakistani Embassy in China to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Pakistan’s independence, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Saturday.
The videos, around two minutes long each, explore the rich repertoire of Pakistani cuisine, crafts, festivals, and architecture, juxtaposing artistic cooking and artisanal processes with a presentation of culinary delights and handcrafted rarities ranging from basmati rice to rugs to marrow-themed carvings.
