Wen Jiabao inaugurates Pak-China friendship centre

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Saturday inaugurated the Pak-China Friendship Centre - an icon of their evergreen relationship and a platform for promotion of their mutual cultural ties. Chinese Premier who is on a three-day official visit to Pakistan, unveiled the plaque of the Centre at Shakarparian along with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani. The foundation of the Centre was also laid by the Chinese Premier Wen in April 2005. It is a gift from the Chinese government to the people of Pakistan and has been built at a cost of Rs 2.5 billion in 22 months.
Wen Jiabao was presented bouquets by two children clad in traditional Pakistani dress as he arrived at the Pak-China Culture Centre.
Keys of the Centre were handed over by Chinese Cultural Minister Cai Wu to Culture Minister of Pakistan Pir Aftab Shah Gilani before its inaugural.
School children in traditional dresses carrying Pakistani and Chinese flags also presented dance on the occasion.
Near the ‘Crescent and Star’ famed intersection and with lush green Shakarparian hills in the backdrop, the Pak-China Friendship Centre stands distinguished depicting the splendour of unique friendly relations between the two countries.
Premier Wen Jiabao was briefed about various sections of the Centre that houses a 800-seat auditorium, conference centre for 200-250 persons, exhibition area, multi-purpose hall, and an art and dance centre over 12 acres of land. He was apprised that the Centre built by the Shanghai Construction Group would be now run by the Ministry of Culture after its inauguration.
He was told that the Centre would help enhance people-to-people contacts and help the two sides understand each others’ cultures.
The Chinese premier took round of the Centre and appreciated the work done on making the building an important cultural platform for boosting the art and cultural activities of Pakistan and China.
He visited the gallery with Chinese brush paintings and photographs put on display. The exhibition marked the iconic friendship between Pakistan and China having all the ingredients of amity, goodwill and harmony.
Premier Wen also interacted with the people who contributed towards the establishment of Pak-China Friendship Centre.
Later, he planted a sampling of Pine tree in the premises of the Centre as a gesture of growing friendly relations between Pakistan and China.