Video Sino-Pakistani cultural center to open in Islamabad CCTV News

A Sino-Pakistani cultural center opens this weekend in Islamabad, to coincide with Wen Jiabao's state visit.
The two countries have historically enjoyed a strong diplomatic relationship and it is hoped that the center will deepen ties.
The oft quoted comparison between China and Pakistan is President Hu Jintao's "higher than the mountains and deeper than oceans".That being the case, the new Pakistan-China Friendship Center in Islamabad is set to complete the landscape.
The inauguration of the center coincides with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's state visit to Pakistan this weekend.
While the two nations will discuss a variety of economic and diplomatic issues, the new cultural center heralds a warmer, more informal relationship.
The Pakistan Ministry of Culture says that the new venue perfectly integrates Chinese and Pakistani aesthetics.
Abdul Sattar Khokar, Deputy Sec'y of Pakistani Ministry of Culture, said, "If you can take a look a the architecture of this building; this is an amalgamation of the Pak Islamic architecture and the Chinese paper cut. Paper cut art. And these arches are symbolic of the Islamic tradition in the architecture and there they have been beautifully amalgamated in the architecture of this building. And the designs that you see they are representative of both china and Pakistan which you must have covered in the building."
Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Sino-Pak relations began when Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the People's Republic.
Pakistan's relations with China became stronger and the two have regularly hosted state visits from one another resulting in a number of economic, diplomatic and military agreements.
The historical link between the two countries goes further than diplomatic ties.
There is long tradition of Chinese settlement in Pakistan.
Roger Lee is just one example. He was born in the country and has lived here for over forty years.
He says that for the Chinese, Pakistan offers a home away from home.
Roge Lee, Chinese Pakistani Restaurateur, said, "What I feel here is that Pakistan is the only country where the Chinese are getting the maximum hospitality because there is a lot of co-operation between Pakistan and China especially since going back to the Silk Road. I think especially since then it is basically just gone forward: economically, in every field. So its just like family."
Pakistani culture has not been immune to the influence of the Chinese. Most prominently of course is Chinese cuisine.
While foreign food can be found in most cities in Pakistan, it's Chinese food that is closest to the nation's heart -- or rather its stomach.
Naturally there are hundreds, if not thousands of Chinese restaurants all over the country and it's the second most popular food in Pakistan.
Wang Fu in Islamabad is a typical example, serving favorites like sweet and sour chicken, beef in black bean sauce and egg fried rice.
Diners enthuse over the subtle flavors of and textures which are quite different from the typically spicy Pakistani alternative.
While Chinese food is presently the mainstay of the Chinese cultural influence in Pakistan, the new Friendship Center will certainly open the gates for wider interaction.
And as Pakistani officials recognize, the ties between the neighboring nations run deep.
The economic and political relationship between China and Pakistan is long established. But now with the inauguration of this new Friendship Center the two neighboring countries can begin to build on their cultural ties.

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[hajijackson]

Pak China Dosti Zinda Baad!

[tokaee]

Sino-Pakistan FRIENDSHIP ZINDABAD.