AIOU to establish Chinese Language and Culture Centre

Islamabad
The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will soon set up a Chinese Language and Culture Centre with the academic support of Open University of Beijing.
A three-member Beijing University’s delegation will visit Islamabad in a few weeks to undertake feasibility study for formally launching the Chinese language classes at the AIOU’s main campus, said AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr. Shahid Siddiqui while addressing a lecture series seminar on China.
AIOU Project Director Dr. Attaullah Shah was the key-speaker at the seminar who briefed the participants about his recent visit to China’s Fujian province. During his 20-day stay there he had the opportunity to represent Pakistan at international conference on Planning and Development of Cities and Towns in China. Engr. Hafiz Ehsan, newly elected Chairman Institution of Engineers of Pakistan (IEP) Rawalpindi-Islamabad Centre was the chief guest on the occasion.
Dr. Shahid Siddiqui said the AIOU being the Mega University in public sector wished to positively respond to China Economic Corridor project (CPEC) by further bringing the people of two countries closer each other through language and culture support. “We need to take benefit of towering Sino-Pak ties through maximum academic exchange programs.”
The CEPC, he said has provided them an opportunity to further consolidate their people-to-people contacts. The educational institutions, he said need to play their role in this connection and to create awareness about its fate-changing impact on country’s socio-economic development.
Currently, the AIOU has bilateral cooperation with three major Chinese universities. The two sides have identified many areas of bilateral interest for promoting educational pursuits in academic, technical and scientific fields.
Dr. Shahid Sididqui further said Pakistani people and the intelligentsia are proud of their friendship with China that is now emerging as Number one economic power. “We can learn a lot from Chinese development model to realize the dream of prosperous Pakistan.
Dr. Attaullah Shah gave detailed presentation on China's fast and impressive development in various sectors.