ISLAMABAD, July 11: The horizon of Pakistani culture is vast and offers rich possibilities of close interaction between the two neighbouring countries China and Pakistan.

This was stated by the Chinese Cultural Counsellor Yuan Weixue at a ceremony marking the presentation of two Chinese computers to Lok Virsa.

Mr Weixue said in his speech that China and Pakistan have worked on a number of cultural projects, which would go a long way in understanding mutual cultural heritage and deepen the friendship at people’s level.

The Cultural Counsellor is an eminent Urdu writer and has translated Chinese and Urdu books. He referred to the translation of Pakistani folk tales in Chinese and said it had gained popularity in his country.

The executive director Lok Virsa Uxi Mufti thanked the Chinese Embassy for the gift and said Mr Weixue was a highly respected orientalist, who had kept himself engaged in transferring knowledge of cultural panorama of Pakistan.

Mr Mufti also informed the participants that Lok Virsa would soon release a book on the travels of the renowned Chinese traveller Fa Shien. The book has been translated in Urdu by Mr Weixue, titled: Barre saghir Pak-o-Hind main pehla Chini saiyah

He disclosed that the author had promised to attempt another translation in English. Mr Mufti said one computer would be utilized in the library, to transfer library archives and for networking with other institutions to promote knowledge on the wealth of cultural materials on Pakistan.

The other computer would be placed in the video studios for non-linear editing. Mr Mufti paid tributes to China for the great strides it had made in the development of convergence technology which combined the facilities of cable, telephone and television in the computer system to help graphic interface. Speaking to Dawn Chinese Embassy’s third Secretary Mr Chang said the port city of Hong Kong had emerged as a strong centre of electronic technology. One could get the most advanced technology in China at a fraction of price of western countries.

Mr Weixue said Chinese Embassy had made computer gifts to the Academy of Letters and Lok Virsa. Last year, the Embassy had gifted computers to the Pakistan National Council of the Arts. The Embassy was keen to strengthen the capacity of cultural organizations, said the Counsellor.—Jonaid Iqbal