January 2, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 1, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 1: The Sindh Minister for Sports, Youth Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Qamar Mansoor, has underlined the need to promote Chinese language in the country and said the government will provide all assistance in this regard. Talking to a delegation of writers from China at Karachi Gymkhana on Saturday, he said there must be institutes for the promotion of Chinese language throughout Pakistan and particularly in Karachi.

He asked Pakistan Academy of Letters to set up an institute in this regard. He said Pakistan had very close ties with China and there was a need to develop excellent understanding with Chinese language. He said China had experienced rapid development in almost every sector in the last few years, and it had always provided efficient support to Pakistan in various sectors.

He said exchange of such visits would help strengthen economic, cultural and political ties between Pakistan and China.

Addressing the event, leader of the Chinese writers group Zhang Jian expressed his gratitude to Karachiites for extending them a warm welcome.

Earlier, PAL chairman Iftikhar Arif stressed the need for exchange of visits of delegates from other fields.

Sindh Tourism Secretary Mehtab Rashidi was also present.—APP