BEIJING, Syed Jamal Shah, the Federal Minister for Heritage and Culture, unveiled plans on Monday for a cultural caravan slated for the end of the year. Designed to go beyond economic links, the initiative seeks to bolster cultural ties between Pakistan, China, and Central Asian States. This announcement was made during an award ceremony for the film “Ba’tie Girl” at the refurbished auditorium of the Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB).
According to a news release by Press Information Department (PID), the proposed caravan, termed the ‘CPEC Cultural Caravan 2023’, will incorporate a mix of artists, musicians, photographers, anthropologists, writers, and filmmakers from Pakistan, China, and Central Asia. In addition to the caravan announcement, Minister Shah presented the Pakistan-China Cultural Exchange Envoy award to Xie Peng, the producer of “Ba’tie Girl”, and a national award for cultural excellence to the film’s co-producer.
The caravan’s journey is set to commence in Xi’an, China, and will traverse Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, UAE, Oman, Gwadar, and Karachi, ultimately concluding in Islamabad. Shah elaborated that the expedition aims to document the regions, communities, and cultures along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Silk Route, with a particular focus on Central Asian countries, throughout December.
During the event, Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque, extended his welcome to Minister Shah and commended him for his influential role in enhancing Pakistan-China cultural collaborations. Ambassador Haque drew attention to Shah’s contributions in the fields of art and cinema, especially citing the movie “Ba’tie”, a joint venture between Hunarkada productions and Xie Peng’s production house. Emphasizing the unique and longstanding bond between Pakistan and China, Ambassador Haque expressed optimism for the current year, which both nations have proclaimed as the ‘Year of Tourism’. He voiced his hope that this initiative will inspire more people from both countries to explore each other’s cultures and landscapes.
During the event, Xie Peng, producer of “Ba’tie Girl”, briefly introduced the film’s theme centered on women’s empowerment and fostering bilateral friendship. Attendees of the ceremony had the opportunity to watch the film, which stars both Pakistani and Chinese artists. Preceding the movie screening, the auditorium’s inauguration was led by Minister Shah, Ambassador Haque, and the principal of PECB. The event saw participation from senior diplomats, officials, educators, media personnel, and community members.