The people of China are hugely contributing to their government efforts for taking the country to the pinnacle of economic and social development and progress.

The Chinese people are living in a high spirit and lofty ideas since President Xi Jinping has motivated them to make their country a sole superpower of the world by the year 2050. Under strict rules and regulations, the traditions of discipline of the Chinese are being universalized through interaction with the outside world under ‘East meets West’ ideology of the government. The thoughts and actions of the Chinese people reflect their sincerity with the goal of setting unique social, cultural and economic trends which are quite handy and easy to accept for those who are in need and stand closer to those who have their own. It is a new China where people from all over the world feel like home by having everything they need and adding more to what they already have.

Fast-developing China, rightly fit for the proverb ‘seeing is believing’ since every passing day in this great country with the largest demographic strength on the earth, is showing a step ahead almost in every area of national building, economic well being, cultural protection side by side opening itself up to the entire world. On the theme of shared economic benefits, China has introduced a system of mutual cooperation and exchange of thoughts and ideas.

For Pakistan, China offers a good opportunity for a thriving economy and knowledge at its doorstep for the future needs in the world as China of today contains all ingredients to make it play a global leadership role in the upcoming time.

A Pakistani media team which visited China on the invitation of Chinese Consulate General to Lahore, saw for themselves what this great country is all about today in addition to feeling warmth of immense love and respect the Chinese have for Pakistan. Pakistan delegation went to Beijing, Shanghai and the industrial city Zhengzhou where they visited Chinese foreign office, media houses, historical sites, that represented the notes of Chinese culture and civilization, educational institution and building of the city planning.

Besides interacting with people, the delegation also experienced the taste of Chinese cuisines that stand apart in the world for their exclusive and rich taste and cooking. The media team enjoyed travel through the speed train and grabbed the opportunity to get an overview of the industrial and the country side of China as well.

Led by politician-cum-columnist Muhammad Mehdi, the Pakistani delegation, right, from the start on arrival at Beijing airport to the end at the same place, received tremendous hospitality and love from senior staffers of China Radio International,(CRI), Urdu service, Ms Ye Feng and Mr Qin Shengrui who temporarily renamed themselves Tahira and Tahir respectively for ‘’our convenience’’. Also assisted by another two, they not only took great care of our comforts and but also arranged our visit to every office, and of course dining.

Our journey begun with visit to Niu Jui Muslim Street, Beijing, where the delegation saw the historic mosque built in the year 996 by Nasuruddin, a religious scholar. It was Friday and the mosque was gradually filled with the faithful. A large number of tourists were also present there to take pictures of the mosque and the Islamic ceramics placed separately in a room. Our presence at the mosque made an additional attraction for them. A 400-year old huge cauldron was also placed on a pedestal at a tidy room outside the mosque wherein special traditional food is prepared on every 27th of Ramazan for collective dinner of the faithful.

In the populace of 20 million people, Beijing, Muslims are more than 0.2 million and about 70 mosques exist for their worship for which no restrictions have been placed by any side. Muslims appeared quite satisfied about their living and facilities they were getting. We saw a number of halal food restaurants in every city.

The most vital part of our activity was visit to the office of Chinese Foreign Ministry, where Mr Liu Pengfei, a senior diplomat of South Asia section, welcomed us and answered our queries. It was conspicuous from discussion with Mr Liu that CPEC project was very important for the economic progress of China and Pakistan and the former strongly desired Islamabad to take advantage of this opportunity. China felt development and the linked stability to it in Pakistan, as dear to it as its own target of becoming the global power. China wanted to turn friendship with Pakistan into an economic partnership after it was already jointly working with it on the field of defence production and others.

The delegation visited museum and office of the oldest news agency of China, Xinhua, in Beijing and saw images of the news copy edited by Chairman Mao Zedong during the Chinese revolution. Chairman Mao’s manuscripts were caste in huge sized copper boards.

All the said cities with clusters of skyscrapers from place to place have become tourism hub. Tourists from all over the world, were seen in large number and freely roaming about the streets and the shopping malls of the town while their presence was markedly huge at the Great Wall of China, about two hour journey from main Beijing city, Forbidden City, the Tiananmen Square, Parliament building, historical park, and the old city.

It was learnt that from 80,000 to 0.1 million tourists daily visit the Great Wall – over 6000km long largely built in 220 BC to 206 BC. In Shanghai, the beauty of Shanghai bund, the temple of god, along with gardens immensely add to the city attraction in the background of skyscrapers. The delegation also enjoyed the dazzling beauty of the illuminated Shanghai from the 88th floor of Jin Mao tower where a high speed elevator took them just in 45 seconds.

The delegation got a chance to see the main city model laid down on the floor at the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Centre where they also learnt much about the city history from the catalogues, pictorial and video presentation. The delegation learnt that the present day city assimilates much more than what was showcased through the model. Planning and development of the city was amazingly carried out keeping in view of the future needs and population pressure. The city had 200 underground long-mile tunnels to share the traffic and travel load on the surface.

In Zhengzhou, we visited SIAS International University, an American varsity affiliation with Zhengzhou University. SIAS has a unique educational system combining both Western and Chinese philosophies. Set up in 1998, SIAS has 26,000 students, local and foreign, differently studying in 75 undergraduates, 15 associate degrees and six dual degree programmes. Dr Sikun Chen, President of the University, briefed the delegation about the Varsity and expressed the desire for affiliation with Pakistani universities and Pakistani students studying therein.

Besides CRI, the delegation visited Shanghai Media Group, Zhengzhou Radio Station, office of China Today and the learnt much about the modern day technology being used in electronic and print media. These organizations had developed their Apps providing communication facility to millions of people. These multiple FMs radio station, were transmitting their voice to tens of millions people in China. Through different channels they were providing a variety of programmes, the music, both English and local, standing the most popular. At CRI the delegation also met a couple for Pakistanis working on deputation in the Urdu Service. ‘China Today’ is being printed in seven languages with circulation in 28 countries of the world including Europe and America. Media as a whole, is a providing a good source for projecting Chinese ideas and development to outside world. As such the range of Chinese media is continuously widening throughout the world.

In last leg of the visit, the delegation tremendously enjoyed the hospitality of the host CRI where delegates were interviewed and given mementos that they took back to home as strong mark of China-Pakistan friendship.