LAHORE: The Lahore’s Chinese Consulate has provided IT equipment, including computers and printers, to the Government College University, Lahore Centre for Excellence, China Studies (GCU CECS) and also pledged to provide books on Chinese language and culture to the Centre.

“The Pakistan-China friendship has a bright future. Language is a bridge that connects people and this Centre would play a key role in bringing the people of two countries close, said Mr Yun Boren, the Counsel General of Peoples Republic of China in Lahore, while addressing the inauguration of Chinese Language Course organised by GCU CECS.

Mr Boren said Pakistan and China were strong strategic partners and their friendship had stood the test of time. But, he also laid a particular stress on bringing the young generation of both brotherly countries closer and bridging a social and cultural gap.

Zoology Department Chairperson Prof Dr Nusrat Jahan said that China had played a very important in role in the development of Pakistan.

She said she hoped that the research conducted by the GCU CECS would help improve their understanding about different aspects of the Chinese culture, political system and economic development.

GCU CECS Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt shared the efforts of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former Punjab Higher Education secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal for establishing the centre at the GCU.

He said the Chinese Language Certificate was just a beginning and the Centre would soon start a diploma and ultimately a degree programme on the Chinese language and literature.

He said they had received a large number of applications for admissions to Chinese Language Certificate which showed the interest of people in learning the Chinese language.

Lahore Commissioner Abdullah Khan Sumbal said that Pakistan had strong strategic and economic ties with China and, as such, government officials should also learn the Chinese Language.

Later, Mr Boren visited the GCU Centre for Excellence, China Studies.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2015

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