Ambassador Masood Khan elected first Mayor of Students Global Village

BEIJING: Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Masood Khan has been elected first Mayor of Global Village by the students of Tsinghua University, China's leading higher learning educational institution.

This is an honorary post conferred on a leading personality. Tsinghua University has been organizing a Global Village for the past five years. The Global Village brings together students from all over the world who display their way of life and culture on the campus of the University. The Ambassador was given this honour at a ceremony held here in which students and faculty members of the Tsinghua University were present.

The President of the Association of International Communication (ASIC) Guo Yi, presented the tablet of Mayorial appointment to the Pakistani Ambassador. Expressing his gratitude to the students of Tsinghua University and the representative students of ASIC, Ambassador Masood Khan lauded the idea of Global Village. He said his election and appointment for this prestigious title is yet another manifestation of the close ties between Pakistan and China.

Though symbolic, this gesture by students is a great honour for Pakistan," he noted. He further said that Pakistan and China enjoy close bilateral ties spread over 60 years and added it is important to transmit this friendship to the younger generation, particularly the students of the two countries. Ambassador Masood Khan said "this year is special for both Pakistan and China as we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of our friendship".

In his remarks Prof. Li Xiguang, Dean, Tsinghua University International Center for Communication Studies said 30,000 students from all parts of the world attended the Global Village event. Speaking on this occasion Guo Yi, President ASIC of Tsinghua University said that during the Global Village event the Pakistan pavilion attracted thousands of students who appreciated the art works displayed there. Earlier, Ambassador Khan met Professor Yuan Si, Vice President of Tsinghua University, and discussed matters relating to close ties between Tsinghua University and Pakistani universities, especially in the field of science and technology. Professor Yuan Si is also a sitting member of the National People's Congress and Vice Chairman of the NPC's Committee on Environmental and Resources Protection.

Masood Khan said Tsinghua University is holding a central position in China's educational system and Pakistani universities are keen to have cooperation with it. Prof. Yuan informed the Ambassador that currently there are 16 Pakistani students studying various disciplines at the Tsinghua university. He said the university management desires to send a student delegation to Pakistan on a regular basis.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011