ISLAMABAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The China-Pakistan Information Corridor was launched here on Monday to strengthen cooperation in media, fact-checking, business, research and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spokesperson of the ministry, Mao Ning, and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong attended the ceremony and delivered speeches.
Around 600 representatives from the media, think tanks and other sectors of both countries participated in the event.
Addressing the ceremony, Tarar said that while the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) connects the economies of the two countries, the Information Corridor aims to build closer ties between their peoples through communication and shared understanding.
He said the initiative focuses on four key areas: media cooperation and fact-checking to counter misinformation; business cooperation to strengthen links between enterprises; think tanks and research to promote knowledge-sharing and intellectual exchanges; and culture, tourism and youth engagement to expand people-to-people contacts.
He expressed hope that the corridor would bring stories of Pakistan-China friendship to households in both countries in their respective languages and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
In her remarks, Mao said China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, adding that CPEC has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries.
Stories have the power to shape people's thoughts and behavior, and there are many compelling stories between China and Pakistan that deserve to be told and heard, she said.
Mao noted that the corridor could play an important role in telling more and better stories of China-Pakistan cooperation. The initiative would build a bridge connecting the hearts of the two peoples and share inspiring stories of ordinary people working together, thereby strengthening public support for bilateral friendship, she added.
Jiang said the Information Corridor had progressed from concept to reality thanks to the strong support of various departments in both countries, particularly their diplomatic and information departments, as well as close cooperation among various sectors, especially the media and think tanks.
He expressed confidence that the corridor would help create a more favorable public opinion environment for advancing practical cooperation between the two countries, lay a stronger public foundation for building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and provide a more effective communication platform for telling stories of each country's development and their joint progress.
The event also featured booths showcasing Chinese and Pakistani culture and cuisine. Artists from both countries performed cultural programs highlighting their respective national traditions. ■
