GCU celebrates Chinese New Year

LAHORE: Government College University (GCU) here on Tuesday organised a ceremony to celebrate the Chinese New Year. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah was the chief guest at the ceremony organised by the university’s Centre of Excellence, China Studies (CECS).

The day-long festivity was marked by Chinese music and pictorial cultural exhibition whereas a large number of Chinese teachers and businessmen of the city also addressed the ceremony and briefed the participants about the Chinese culture, customs, lifestyle and traditions.

Speaking on the occasion, GCU-CECS Director Prof Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt highlighted the need for establishment of more Chinese Studies centres throughout the country, saying that social and cultural integration of two friendly nations was highly crucial for the success of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He stressed the need for strong academic and research collaboration among the universities of China and Pakistan for technology transfer, which, he said, should be an integral part of CPEC for the real economic benefits.

Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said celebrating and observing other cultures helped them understanding their own. He said strong people to people contact would surely open new vistas economic cooperation between China and Pakistan. He greeted Chinese teachers and businessmen attending the ceremony on their New Year.

Address the ceremony, Ms Li Herong, a Chinese language teacher, at GCU said Pakistanis were very loving, and Chinese were also very happy and secure while working here. “Pakistan is now like our second home,” she added. The Chinese New Year celebration was followed by a cake-cutting and heartfelt blessings were delivered to the Chinese people by the students of GCU.