Chinese acrobats perform at Numl

Chinese acrobats put on a performance at the National University of Modern Languages (Numl). The group of acrobats from South Central University of Nationalities, China was visiting the university on an invitation from Confucius Institute and Numl.

Mrs Bao Jiqing, the Chinese ambassador’s wife, Rector Numl retired Major General Ziaud Din Najam, Chinese Cultural Counselor Zheng Guojin and other diplomats attended the event.

Mrs Jiqing said China has 56 different cultural groups and that they are all based on peace and harmony. She said relations between Pakistan and China were deep rooted and that the friendship between the two countries had withstood the test of time.

The rector of Numl, Ziaud Din Najam said Chinese acrobats were some of the best in the world and could mesmerise audiences with their fluid movements and perfection in their art.

He said that culture plays an important part in bringing two nations together and that Numl was making efforts to promote the Chinese culture and language in Pakistan.

Both the countries are celebrating 2015 as a year of friendly exchanges between the people to encourage them to interact with each other.

‘National heroes are our assets’

Speaking at the National Speech Competition, President Mamnoon Hussein said young people should learn from the lives of our national heroes, who sacrificed everything for preserving the sovereignty of our country.

The competition was organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war and to honour the sacrifices made by the armed forces. It was titled “One Nation, One Destination: set to regain its rightful place in the comity of nations”.

The President said the youth have an important role to play in developing the country. He said the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb will have positive effects on the entire region. Some 30 students from different universities hung on to the president’s words.

Chairman HEC, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, said young people should know about the sacrifices their forefathers made, adding that nations never forget their heroes. He said being united is very important for the development of a country and said we have to focus on promoting a culture of tolerance so we can become a strong, unified nation.

Students from different universities participated in the competition. Makhdoom Shahabud Din, a student of National University of Sciences and Technology, bagged the first prize in the Urdu speech competition while Zahid Ali of Government College University Lahore came second and Yasir Rashid of the University of Punjab came third.

In the English speech competition, Manaal Ayesha of Fatima Jinnah Women’s University won the first prize; Khushal Khan of National Defense University came second followed by Sidra Baig from the University of Haripur.

A cash prize of Rs50,000 was awarded to first position holders while those who came second and third were given Rs40,000 and Rs30,000 respectively.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2015