First China-Pakistan CPEC Cultural Caravan festival kicks off

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan Festival kicked off on Sunday at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The festival features an exhibition of paintings, drawings, and artwork produced by Chinese and Pakistani artists who had participated in the CPEC cultural caravan — traveling to each other’s countries to glean their cultures.

The Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing and the Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting & National Heritage Marriyam Aurangzeb were the chief guests at the opening ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese ambassador Yao Jing said the success of CPEC depended on the interaction and collaboration of people from both the countries.

Marriyam Aurangzeb said the CPEC was not about the performance of the present regime but it was the future of the next generation. The successful implementation of CPEC would bring prosperity to the nation while it would also lead to regional integrity.

The regional cultural performances depicting folk heritage of Pakistan marked the opening ceremony of the CPEC Cultural Caravan that was being held at PNCA Islamabad. 

The guests were greeted by the performers who sang and danced to the beat of the dhol and created a festive ambiance to the ceremony.

A grand art exhibition was also inaugurated that showcased the paintings, drawings, and artwork produced by artists of CPEC Cultural Caravan.

A series of books and research reports were also part of the caravan to document, preserve and promote the cultural and artistic expressions of the diverse communities around the Silk Route and CPEC.

A documentary was also screened at the ceremony that showcased the work of professional photographers and artists of Pakistan and China that they captured during the CPEC Cultural Caravan journey.

CPEC Youth Contest entries, documentaries and a photo montage by filmmakers were also screened, each dedicated to one of the cities on the CPEC route, showing historical backgrounds, culture, history, tourist attractions and monuments.

Panel discussions and cultural stalls showcasing regional culture were organized. The stalls of traditional food and cuisine from Pakistan and China were also established within the premises of PNCA.

Regional handicrafts included embroidered dresses, ceramics, wall hangings, vases and handcrafted carpets. Chinese and Pakistani songs were presented by singers from both the countries.

It has been demanded that the films should be dubbed in Chinese and Arabic so it’s easier to release them in China and Saudi Arabia. The cinema should be made accessible to everyone. The tickets should be less expensive so that everyone can come and watch films, participants said.