Zubair Yaqoob
Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Liaison Office Karachi, celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China with a special Chinese Film Screening that brought together diplomats, artists and cultural figures in Karachi on Thursday evening.
The event reflected the growing cultural partnership between the two countries and highlighted the role of art and cinema in strengthening people-to-people connections. Consul General of the People’s Republic of China Yang Yundong attended the ceremony as chief guest alongside President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Liaison Office Karachi Muhammad Irfan Soomro and several diplomats and honorary consuls representing different countries.
Among those present were Vice Consul General of China Feng Daheng, Vice Consul Li Chong, Consul General of Indonesia Mudzakir, Consul General of Sri Lanka Sanjeewa Pattivila, Consul General of Türkiye Ergul Kadak and other diplomatic representatives, members of the Arts Council and citizens who gathered to celebrate the long-standing friendship between Islamabad and Beijing. The ceremony opened with the national anthems of Pakistan and China, followed by a tribute song jointly performed by Pakistani and Chinese singers in honor of the friendship between the two nations. A commemorative cake was also cut to mark the 75th anniversary celebrations. Guests later attended the screening of “The Shadow Chaser,” featuring international film star Jackie Chan.
In his welcome address, Muhammad Ahmed Shah described the Pakistan-China relationship as one of the strongest and most reliable partnerships in the modern world. He said the bond between the two countries had not only survived decades of political and economic changes but had continued to grow stronger with time. “I warmly welcome all guests from the depths of my heart. It is an honour for me that today’s ceremony is being held at the Arts Council,” Shah said. He noted that relations between Pakistan and China extended beyond trade and infrastructure projects, adding that the emotional connection between the people of both countries remained equally important. According to him, culture and the arts serve as powerful tools in bringing nations closer together. Shah also highlighted the Arts Council’s growing international profile and referred to the World Culture Festival organized in Karachi over the past two years, where artists from more than 140 countries participated.
He said cultural exchanges had the power to remove borders and deepen understanding among nations. “Cinema, like other great arts, takes us across borders without travelling,” he said while emphasizing the importance of cultural diplomacy in the future relationship between the two countries. Speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong said the 75th anniversary represented more than a diplomatic milestone and symbolized decades of trust, sincerity and mutual respect between Pakistan and China. “China and Pakistan have stood together in every difficult time. This is why the relations between China and Pakistan have become even stronger and deeper over time,” he said. Yang said both countries should continue expanding cooperation in education, science, technology, digital economy and innovation to create better opportunities for young people.
He described youth as the greatest asset of any nation and said Pakistan’s young population had the potential to play a major role in strengthening future cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad. Director General MOFA Muhammad Irfan Soomro also addressed the gathering and praised China’s development model, calling it an example for Pakistan in discipline, planning and investment in human resources. He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and strategic partnership between the two countries were opening pathways toward economic modernization and shared prosperity. Soomro also commended the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi for promoting diplomacy through culture, music, literature and cinema.
He said Karachi was increasingly gaining recognition as an international cultural hub and described the Chinese Film Festival as a meaningful initiative to strengthen public connections between the people of Pakistan and China. The event concluded with bouquet presentations by Muhammad Ahmed Shah to Chinese Consul General Yang Yundong and Director General Irfan Soomro on behalf of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, symbolizing the warmth and continuity of the relationship between the two longtime allies.
