By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: A colorful ceremony was held at the China Window, a Chinese cultural center in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan in connection with the Chinese New Year.
Chinese Lunar New Year 2023 — or, rather, New Year 4721 — will take place on Sunday, 22 January 2023 in Asia — the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit, ending the Year of the Tiger.
Governor KP Haji Ghulam Ali attended the ceremony as the chief guest. President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Ishaq, Bishop Ernest Jacob, former Member of KP Assembly Dr. Muhammad Zakir Shah, newly elected President of Peshawar Press Club Arshad Aziz Malik and a large number of people from different walks of life participated in the event. Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Nong Rong addressed the participants online. A cake-cutting ceremony was also organised at the occasion.
Addressing the event, Governor Haji Ghulam Ali said that “Pakistan-China relations are higher than the Himalayas, sweeter than honey and deeper than the sea.” He added that these were not just words, but the feelings of every Pakistani, the main reason of which was the mutual relationship based on more than seven decades which brought the people of the two countries closer to each other, making this bond of friendship stronger and stronger.
The Governor said that the brotherly neighboring country China has supported Pakistan in every difficult time. “Today, although we are facing a difficult economic situation, but the economic plan that China has started as CPEC will definitely start a new era of economic development in Pakistan,” he added. “This plan will stabilize the economy of Pakistan.”
The governor said that “although the pace of work on CPEC was slow during the previous regime, the current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team are trying their best to speed it up, so that its fruits reach the people as soon as possible.
The governor expressed hope that not only foreign investors but Pakistani businessmen would also be interested in Rashkai Economic Zone on which the work has started and the factories set up there will increase exports and economic growth in the province. It will provide employment opportunities to people.”
The Governor congratulated the diplomats, government and people of China on the occasion of their New Year, saying that “the China Window has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to share in the happiness of the Chinese people. On behalf of my government, I wish the Chinese people a happy New Year and hope that the people of Pakistan and China will continue to share in the joys.”
Chinese Ambassador HE Nong Rong said in his online address that the New Year celebrations are a big festival for the Chinese people which is celebrated not only in China but all over the world.
‘Chinese New Year celebrations exemplify Pak-China friendship’
“The New Year ceremony in Peshawar is undoubtedly an example of Pakistan-China friendship and a commendable initiative,” he added.
The Chinese ambassador said that “under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has become the second largest economic power in the world. He said that China wants economic development in its brotherly neighboring country Pakistan.”
“The relations between the two countries are very unique as depicted from the fact that after the Congress of the Communist Party of China Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the first foreign head to visit China.
Nong Rong said that China has completed 47 projects under the CPEC with an investment of 25 billion dollars, while in the next phase, the development of industries in Pakistan and its export competitiveness will be increased by enhancing cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, science and technology.
He added that China announced more than 500 million yuan of emergency aid for the flood disasters in Pakistan, out of which 36 billion rupees in aid have reached Pakistan. Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong thanked Governor KP for participating in the event and also paid tribute to the organisers of China Window for arranging the event.
Speaking at the occasion, President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Muhammad Ishaq, Bishop Ernest Jacob, newly elected president of Peshawar Press Club Arshad Aziz Malik and former member of Provincial Assembly Dr. Zakir Shah said that China has supported Pakistan in every difficult time which requires that the people of Pakistan also participate in the happiness of the Chinese people. In this regard, an event in Peshawar in connection with the Chinese New Year is undoubtedly worthy of praise, which will strengthen the friendship between the two countries at the public level, added the speakers.
