January 1, 2006	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 29, 1426

KARACHI, Dec 31: The visiting five-member delegation of Chinese writers group hoped that close brotherly ties between Pakistan and China would further be cemented in the future and paid rich tributes to Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Addressing the faculty members and students of the Sindh Madressatul Islam (SMI) on Saturday leader of the Chinese Writers group, Zhang Jian, said that Mr Jinnah was not only the founder of Pakistan but he was also a respectable person for China.

“Progress of a country is based on education. Therefore, I hope and wish that all the teachers of the SMI will work for best future generation of Pakistan” he commented and added that “the Chinese people will welcome Pakistan’s youth to visit China to study over there”.

Iftikhar Arif, Chairman of the Pakistan Academy of letters, said that the friendship of Pakistan and China was time-tested.

He said that the students of Pakistan should feel proud to be the heirs of Mehrgarh, Moenjodaro, Harrapa and Taxila civilizations and then of the Islamic welfare state of Pakistan.

SMI Principal Mohammad Ali Shaikh in his welcome address said that Pakistan and China had cordial relations for a long time.

Travellers of China used to visit Sindh in the 6th and 7th centuries and also in the later days, he added.

The Chinese delegation comprised of Zhang Jian, Tanh Bao-Hua, Liu Hua, Ms. Baima Nazhen, Tang Meng-Sheng, Anwer Khan.

The director-general of Pakistan Academy of Letters, Agha Noor Mohammed Pathan, Resident Director PAL, Karachi, Sun Chanye, Consul-General of China in Karachi, Zhang Chaoy, Culture Consul, MA Ting Gang, Vice-Consul, and Zhang Bin, First Secretary of Embassy of China in Islamabad were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, Mohammed Ali Sheikh gave a presentation on Sindh Madressah, its historic, role and Indus Valley Civilization.

The Chinese delegation also visited Anjuman Tarraqi Urdu Pakistan.

Prof Zhang Jian commended Anjuman-i-Tarraqi-i-Urdu’s pivotal role in the promotion of Urdu language and hoped that Urdu would maintain its pace of development under the guidance of its “devoted friends”.

Anjuman’s president Aftab Ahmed Khan in his welcome address observed that China would soon emerge as a “second superpower” of the world.

Other members of the Chinese delegation and office-bearers of the anjuman also spoke.

Prof Sahar Ansari, Syed Azfar Rizvi and Aftab Ahmed Khan presented Ajraks and Sindhi caps and memento to the Chinese guests.

The vice-chancellor of the Urdu varsity, Dr Iqbal Mohsin, Dr Shahab Qidwai, Naqqash Kazmi and others were also present.

The delegation also visited Fine Arts Gallery and Jinnah Museum.