by Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, Oct. 22 (China Economic Net) - Ambassador of Pakistan to China Mr. Moin-ul-Haq presented “Pakistan Civil Awards” on behalf of the President of Pakistan to two leading Chinese personalities at an investiture ceremony held on Thursday in the Pakistan Embassy Beijing.

Hilal-e-Imtiaz conferred upon Dr. Zhao Baige. [Photo/Wang Yan]

The president of Pakistan had conferred the prestigious “HILAL-I-IMTIAZ” upon Dr. Zhao Baige and “SITARA-I-PAKISTAN upon Ms. Geng Ying for services to Pakistan.

Dr. Zhao Baige is the Vice-Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC).

Talking in an exclusive interview with China Economic Net, ZHAO Baige said it’s a great honor for her to achieve this award but it is also a great responsibility.

“In the past six years we have been working very closely for CPEC and also we tried to promote people-to-people dialogue including young generation dialogue, which I really think for two countries people need to promote such kind of relationship,” she added.

ZHAO told CEN that she served as a Deputy Director of the National Population and family Commission of China. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Doctorate Degree in 1989 and started her work with the National Population and Family Planning Commission in 1998.

“After the awarding, I will try my best to work for this kind of friendship especially next year two countries celebrating 70th-year diplomatic ties and I think we can do a lot of work not only government to government but also people to people” she mentioned.

As Chair of the “Belt and Road” International Think Tank under the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), Research and Development International (RDI), she launched the Karamay Initiative aiming to promote economic and commercial ties between Pakistan and China. She has led many delegations to Pakistan to advance the ongoing economic cooperation, promotion of investment, people-to-people exchanges, and collaboration between the intelligentsia and think tanks. In recognition of her outstanding services to Pakistan Hilal-e-Imtiaz was conferred upon her.

Addressing guests at the ceremony, Ambassador Mr. Moin-ul-Haq said that we pay tribute to our heroes, we need to remind ourselves that people are truly ambassadors of our respective countries. He said it is our duty to tell younger generations this tradition of Pakistan-China friendship.

“As an ambassador, it could be my commitment and devotion to take this relationship to even greater heights, which will not only serve the best interest of the two countries but will also ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the entire region and beyond,” he stated.

Ms. Geng Ying is the President of China Cultural Heritage Foundation (CCHF). She is a great patron of Chinese art, culture and has organized a large number of art exhibitions in China and worldwide.

Sitara-i-Pakistan conferred upon Ms. Geng Ying. [Photo/Wang Yan]

Ms. Geng and CCHF played a key role in the publication of “Pak-Cheen Dosti”, a bilingual anthology of poetry on Pakistan-China friendship. She was also prominently involved in the project to start a “Friendship Bamboo” plantation in the Chinese city of Wuhan using saplings from the erstwhile residence of the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan in Karachi.

Chinese representatives of various ministries, National Development & Reform Commission, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Chamber of International Commerce, China Cultural Heritage Foundation, officers of Pakistan Embassy, and media representatives attended the auspicious investiture ceremony.