As 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, the Confucius Institute at the University of the Punjab has staged a series of events to reaffirm the two nations’ “ironclad” bond and expand people-to-people ties. Held with the backing of the Punjab provincial government and the Chinese Consulate General in Lahore, the programme ranged from high-level seminars and cultural quizzes to a landmark literary translation.
The celebrations drew a diverse audience. Consul General Sun Yan attended in person, while Xiong Zhihua, vice president of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, delivered video remarks. The Institute’s Chinese director, Cai Jinbao, and Pakistani director, Sobia, were joined by faculty and students from across Punjab.
At the “Seminar on the 75th Anniversary of China-Pakistan Diplomatic Relations,” scholars and policy experts examined the strategic partnership, the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and emerging avenues for cooperation. Consul General Sun Yan praised the Confucius Institute as a vital channel of mutual understanding between the two peoples.
In his video message, Vice President Xiong Zhihua struck a forward-looking tone. “Seventy-five years of shared hardships and triumphs have forged an ever-stronger friendship,” he said. “For more than a decade, the Confucius Institute co-founded by our two universities has taken root in Pakistan. It has grown from a Chinese-language platform into an indispensable think tank and a cultural artery for the CPEC. Going forward, China and Pakistan will steadily advance along a roadmap of high-quality corridor development and deeper security and cultural cooperation.”
A lively quiz on Chinese culture and history turned weighty knowledge into spirited competition. Questions spanning ancient inventions to modern economic progress ignited enthusiasm among young Pakistanis, reinforcing classroom learning while planting seeds of goodwill.
The Institute also announced a significant milestone in literary exchange: the completion of the Chinese translation of Jannat, an acclaimed Pakistani work, as part of a state-level cultural translation project. “Literature is the mirror of a nation’s soul,” said Cai Jinbao. “By translating each other’s stories, we allow readers to cross language barriers and touch each other’s hearts.” The Institute plans to build on this momentum with dedicated China-Pakistan literary translation events, using the written word to deepen the conversation between the two civilizations.
