Pak-China’s weak cultural bonding poses challenges

LAHORE:The lack of cultural contacts between Pakistan and China is one of the major challenges to a durable bilateral economic relationship, a business leader said on Thursday.

Pak-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Shah Faisal Afridi urged the government to establish Pak-China cultural street in different cities of Pakistan to promote cultural harmony between the two countries.

“At a time when Pakistan is entering into major economic relations with foreign countries in the region, as well as globally, it is imperative to pay attention to the cultural dimensions of international relations by extending the scope of public diplomacy,” Afridi said.

He said interactions between the citizens of neighbouring countries, if based on an informed understanding of diverse cultural practices and aesthetic traditions, can engender a process of acculturation, which can help evolve transnational identities based on geo-cultural heritage of the region.

He said the cultural street will also serve as a fascinating entertainment place for the citizens of Pakistan, adding that the cultural street can include Chinese cuisine, calligraphy, literature, Kung Fu and martial arts, Chinese movies and theatre, and Chinese dresses.

Moreover, traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring festivals, Mid-Autumn Day, etc, can also be celebrated in those streets of Pakistan, along with Pakistani local festivals, such as Shindoor Mela, Mela Chiraghan and Jashn-e-Baharaan.