ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage has said that enhanced cultural ties between Pakistan and China will boost people-to-people contact.
The CPEC will not only be a source of economic and infrastructural development but will also open new avenues of collaboration in the arena of art, culture and heritage, said the minister while leaving for China on a five-day official visit on the invitation of Lu Shugang, Chinese minister of culture, on Saturday.
Terming the CEPC a route of peace and prosperity, Marriyum said that history of the world was replete with events where alliances were built primarily to contain other powers, to conquer other territories or for the sake of self-defence, but the Pak-China partnership under the CPEC was unique in the sense that it was meant to boost development process not only in China and Pakistan but also in the entire region and beyond.
Apart from solidifying regional connect, the CPEC would also boost tourism and establish cultural linkage through One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, which was imperative to bring people of both nations closer, Marriyum said.
She said that the One Belt One Road initiative would not only bound the two countries in eternal partnership for shared economic progress of the whole region but would also strengthen heritage, which was its one of the most important components.
She said that promotion of art and culture was one of the top priorities of government and it would soon announce the cultural policy. “We are also working on first ever film, production and broadcast policy, as movies are one of the greatest mediums to promote screen tourism and showcase values and culture of any society,” she added.
The minister of state said that signing of executive programme of cultural agreement would go a long way in consolidating cultural relations and promoting people-to-people contact between the two states. She said that Pakistan would also like to seek Chinese cooperation in its bid to revive its film industry. Collaboration and formal engagement in the field of media, information, exchange of dramas and co-productions would also come under discussion during her visit to China, she added.
During her visit, Marriyum Aurangzeb will sign Executive Programme of Cultural Agreement with Luo Shugang. She will also meet Tong Gang, vice minister, on her visit to State Administrating of Press, Publication, Radio, Film & Television (SAPPRFT) and will visit China National Museum. She will also visit Shanghai Film Group and Film Museum and interact with media outlets of China.
Published in Daily Times, February 4th 2018.
