HYDERABAD: Art and culture serve as the most powerful means to broaden understanding betw­een Pak­­is­tan and China, deepen ins­ight into each other and facilitate social change thr­o­ugh community mobilisation.

This was stated by Sindh Uni­ver­sity Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat while speaking at the Pakistan-China Cultural Car­­a­van held on Monday at its Shaheed Mohtarma Ben­azir Bhutto Research Chair and Convention Centre.

The event was jointly organised by SU’s Area Study Centre for Far East and South-East Asia and Hanban/Confucius Instit­ute China.

Dr Burfat hailed teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confuc­ius and descri­bed him as a universal sage.

Students, teachers and guests packed the event’s venue, having a capacity of 2,000, and scores others had to sit or stand behind them as auditorium fell short of seats.

TV host Saqib Abro and SU student Khushboo Chan­dio moderated the proceedings.

Speaking as the chief guest, Zhang Xiaoping, dir­e­­c­tor of the Confucius Insti­tute, Karachi, said that he, the Chinese troupe and faculty of the Confucius Insti­tute, University of Karachi, Cadet College Petaro, Meh­ran University of Enginee­ring and Technology all were glad to have brought Chinese culture, traditions, folklore and music to youths of this university in the form of diverse stage performances.

Other speakers at the event highlighted the strong bond of friendship between Pakistan and China and said that the relationship stood the test of time.

The two countries have always come to each other’s help without wasting a moment. There exists an extensive common cultural ground and enormous sha­r­ed future economic potential for the two countries to pursue, they noted.

Pakistani and Chinese artists presented tremendous performances to enthral the audience. Natio­nal anthems of the two cou­n­tries were played whereas other features included good luck opening dance by Chinese performers, performance of traditional Chin­ese instrument ‘hulusi’, jasmine flower song by MUET’s Chinese language students and the Taichi Duo-Kung fu show.

Chinese songs were sung by several Chinese language students and many other students presented traditional and cultural classic-folk renditions and mystic numbers depicting cultures of all parts of Pakistan.

Earlier, SU Area Study Centre director Dr Ghulam Akbar Mahesar welcomed the guests and audience.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019