Pakistan and China held ministerial level talks here and discussed a plan to push forward their cultural ties and strengthen people-to-people contacts. The two sides also reached an understanding to take necessary steps for upholding their common cultural identity.
They also agreed to work together for properly preserving their archaeological and historical resources.
During the talks, Cultural Minister Ghazi Gulab Jamal and his Chinese counterpart Meng Xiaosi pledged to maintain close interaction at the level of their respective institutions to implement the existing bilateral agreement in the cultural sector.
Gulab Jamal told APP in an interview at the end of the weeklong visit to China that the Chinese side showed willingness to work together with Pakistan to promote and preserve their cultural heritage.
Pakistan and China enjoy strong and deep bonds of friendship and there is a great similarity in culture and tradition, which brings the two countries closer to each other. It was agreed during the talks that these bonds of friendship would be reinforced through regular cultural exchanges.
THE TWO COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW A TEN-POINT STRATEGY FOR STRENGTHENING THEIR CULTURAL TIES THAT INCLUDES: exchange of cultural delegations and troupes at central and provincial levels on regular basis, training of experts for preservation of cultural monuments, co-production of films and dramas, establishment of a working-liaison between the educational institutions of Fine Arts, facilitating students of the two countries to acquire higher education in art and culture and helping each other country for capacity-building of their archaeological treasures.
As a gesture of goodwill, the Chinese side also offered technical support in form of equipment, worth 100,000 RMB to help in maintaining cultural sites in Pakistan.
Earlier, Syed Ghazi Gulab Jamal met the Chinese top-ranking leader and State Councillor Chen Zhili.
He was accompanied by Parliamentary Secretary for Production Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Parliamentary Secretary Privatisation Division Dr S Javed Hussain Mian, Parliamentary Secretary Overseas Pakistanis Division Dr Naseem Gul Afridi and Pakistan's ambassador to China Salman Bashir.
The two sides reaffirmed their determination to carry forward their deep-rooted bonds of friendship to new generation through maximum cultural exchanges.
The Pakistani delegation also visited Shanghai and held talks with the local leaders to improve their interactions in the fields of art and culture.