Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Mr.Jamal Shah, held a meeting on Tuesday

By: Muhammad Ilyas

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, Mr.Jamal Shah, held a meeting on Tuesday with Ambassadors from Central Asian States, Russia, and China to discuss the initial plan for the second ‘CPEC Cultural Caravan 2024.’ The initiative aims to strengthen cultural bonds between Pakistan, China, Russia, and the Central Asian States.The high-level meeting, hosted at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts-PNCA, was attended by His Excellency Mr.Albert Khorev, Ambassador of Russia to Pakistan; Counselor Bao Zhong from the Embassy of China; H.E. Mr. Atajan Movlamov, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan; H.E.Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan; H.E. Mr. Ulanbek Totuiaev, Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan; H.E. Aybek Arif Usmanov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan; and H.E. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan. Federal Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Ms.Humaira Ahmed, Advisor to Federal Minister on National Heritage and Culture Division Mr. Muhammad Kashif Irshad, Director General PNCA Mr. Muhammad Ayuob Jamali, Executive Director Lok Virsa Mr. Uzair Khan, and Chairperson Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Dr. Najeeba Arif were also present in the meeting. Addressing the diplomats, Federal Minister Mr. Syed Jamal Shah apprised them that his ministry plans to organize the second China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan 2024 aimed to promote economic ties and strengthen cultural bonds among Pakistan, China, and the Central Asian States. Mr.Jamal Shah mentioned that the CPEC Cultural Caravan will commence its journey from Xi’an, China, traversing through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,Turkmenistan, Iran, UAE, Gwadar, Karachi, ultimately concluding in Islamabad.
Moreover, this cultural excursion will document the experiences and stories of people along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Silk Route, covering Central Asian countries. The Federal Minister emphasized that the CPEC Cultural Caravan aims to promote dialogue, cultural exchange, understanding, trust, and respect between nations. Additionally, it will strengthen international relations in terms of protecting cultural heritage, cultural and academic exchange, and support the promotion of arts and creative industries on the caravan route in the fields of culture, history, education, and economic and heritage tourism. The “CPEC Cultural Carvan 2024” will be comprised of diverse groups of Pakistani, Chinese, and Central Asian artists, musicians, photographers, anthropologists, writers, and filmmakers. In their separate remarks, the Ambassadors praised the idea of the joint CPEC cultural caravan, emphasizing the importance of promoting people-to-people contacts through such mega cultural activities. They assured full support for convening this important event and agreed to continue working on the overall plan of CPEC Cultural Caravan 2024. Earlier, Secretary National Heritage and Culture Division Ms. Humaira Ahmed highlighted the importance of the CPEC cultural caravan in her welcome note, considering it the second episode of the initiative. The meeting aimed to share the overall concept of the Cultural Caravan and was moderated by Advisor to Minister on National Heritage and Culture Division Muhammad Kashif Irshad. The meeting concluded with a flute performance by Salman Adil, and a documentary showcasing the work of professional photographers and artists from Pakistan and China, who participated in the first CPEC Cultural Caravan, was also screened.