by Mariam Raheem

 

LAHORE, June 9 (China Economic Net) - The preliminary round of the 20th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for foreign college students with the theme of “One world, One family” was held by the Confucius Institute of Punjab University (CIPU) on Monday in Lahore, which is also dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. 

 

 

The students of CIPU expressed their heartfelt wishes through cultural activities in the form of speeches, singing, paper-cut, Tai Chi and traditional Chinese painting. Representatives from various communities recounted the glorious history of 70 years’ profound friendship and prospected a brighter future. The overseas Chinese in Punjab asserted their sincere patriotism, firm support and deep love for the Communist Party of China and expressed their best wishes for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

   

 

Prof. Dr. Saleem Mazhar, Pro-VC of Punjab University, highlighted that the “Chinese Bridge” is really a bridge benefits the most ordinary people in Pakistan, a bridge enables Pakistani students to reach China and the world, and a bridge for Sino-Pakistani friendship with language as the carrier and culture as the medium. “I hope that these Pakistani young people can get good grades and continue to contribute to our friendship,” he said.

 

Underscoring that the Chinese language is a bridge to explore the profound charm of Chinese culture, Cai Jinbao, Chinese Director of CIPU, stated that “only by learning Chinese language well can one understand the Chinese culture, truly enter the uninterrupted Chinese civilization for 5,000 years, be better emissaries of China-Pakistan friendship and have a more comprehensive understanding of the 100-year great process of how the Communist Party of China led the Chinese people to stand up, get rich and become strong.” 

 

     

 

Prof. Dr. Rana, Pakistani Director of CIPU hoped that Pakistani students who learn Chinese can study harder and contribute to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) construction and the country as a whole. Zafar Uddin Mahmood, Founder of Understanding China Forum, shows his willingness to carry out more cooperation with CIPU in the future.

 

Luo Qiang, President of the Lahore Overseas Chinese Association (LOCA), thumbed up that the “Chinese Bridge” competition has enabled overseas Chinese in Punjab and students from CIPU to have deeper understanding of the profound friendship between the two peoples.