ISLAMABAD (Agencies): Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Jamal Shah, engaged in a pivotal meeting on Tuesday with Ambassadors from Central Asian States, Russia, and China to discuss the preliminary outline of the upcoming ‘CPEC Cultural Caravan 2024.’ The primary objective of this cultural initiative is to bolster cultural ties among Pakistan, China, Russia, and Central Asian States.
The high-level meeting, convened at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, saw the attendance of esteemed diplomats, including Ambassador of Russia to Pakistan His Excellency Albert Khorev, Embassy of China Counselor Bao Zhong, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan H.E. Mr. Atajan Movlamov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan H.E. Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan H.E. Totuiaev Ulanbek Asankulovich, Ambassador of Uzbekistan H.E. Aybek Arif Usmanov, and Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan H.E. Khazar Farhadov.
Federal Secretary National Heritage and Culture Humaira Ahmed, Advisor National Heritage and Culture Muhammad Kashif Irshad, Director General PNCA Ayuob Jamali, Executive Director Lok Virsa Uzair Khan, and Chairperson Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Dr. Najeeba Arif were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the distinguished diplomats, Federal Minister Jamal Shah detailed his ministry’s plans to organize the second edition of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan. The initiative aims to foster economic ties while strengthening cultural bonds between Pakistan, China, and the Central Asian States.
Jamal Shah disclosed that the CPEC Cultural Caravan would embark on its journey from Xi’an, China, traversing through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, UAE, Gwadar, Karachi, and concluding in Islamabad. He emphasized that the caravan would document diverse lives along the CPEC and Silk Route, covering Central Asian countries.
The Cultural Caravan, comprised of Pakistani, Chinese, and Central Asian artists, musicians, photographers, anthropologists, writers, and filmmakers, seeks to promote dialogue, cultural exchange, understanding, trust, and respect between nations. It aims to strengthen international relations, particularly in the protection of cultural heritage, cultural and academic exchange.
Moreover, the CPEC Cultural Caravan intends to support the promotion of arts and creative industries in culture, history, education, and economic and heritage tourism along its route.
The Ambassadors, in separate remarks, lauded the joint CPEC cultural caravan initiative, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people contacts through such significant cultural activities. They pledged full support for the event and agreed to continue work on the overall plan of Cultural Caravan 2024.
The meeting concluded with a flute performance by Salman Adil, providing a cultural touch to the diplomatic proceedings.