Sports and Cultural Cooperation in Pak-China Relations
Sports and Cultural relations always play a significant and conferring role in strengthening the affairs between any two states. While Pakistan and China have extended their cooperation in the form of multibillion dollar CPEC agreement, sports and cultural exchanges also hold their own significant worth in growing people to people interaction between both the states. These exchanges include to and fro cultural visits, film and drama festivals, joint ventures in different sports and equipping players of both the sides with the modern-day training and coaching.
While Pakistan and China both have reciprocated the gestures of cultural and sports cooperation, Chinese influx in Pakistani society has stood out to be a major reason of a cultural merger within the Pakistani society. Two Chinese players were inducted in Peshawar Zalmi cricket team in 2017 Pakistan super league which was widely appreciated across the board. Similarly, Managing Director of CPEC Culture Communication center China, visited Pakistan in 2017 and held meeting with different governmental and developmental sector officials with an aim to promote the cultural and sports cooperation between the two states. Visits like these on the Governmental level as well as within the private sector would prove out to be very beneficial for the people of both the states. Culture is a vital element of national sovereignty, providing the opportunity for the expression of the nation’s regional, ethnic and historical diversity. Development of a national culture, shared values and national identity is certainly a sign of good governance and exposure to the cultural products of other nations, not only inspires the masses but also creates opportunities for them to interact with each other, discuss ideas, and innovate and work on the understanding of mutual cooperation.
Though cultural cooperation has been extended between both the states, there is still a lot that can be explored between the two nations. Pakistan is famous for its hospitality and tourism. Swat region of Pakistan holds immense beauty and is deliberated as the Switzerland of the east. With its roaring rivers, waterfalls, meandering streams, glacier fed lakes, pine forests, alpine meadows, snow covered peaks of Mankial and Falaksair, fruit laden orchards, lush green fields, and flower filled mountain slopes, Swat region is undoubtedly a heaven for tourists and adventurous people. Similarly, Islamabad is ranked amongst one of the most beautiful cities of the world. Lahore has its own historical and traditional values that are in itself attraction for the tourists with Badshahi mosque and Shahi Qilla as the focused center of attraction. Peshawar is famous for its hospitable pathans, Qilla Bala Hisar and its lamb karahi. Karachi is known for a moderate outlook of Pakistan. In short, Pakistan has a rich and comprehensive culture and traditions that can fascinate and mesmerize foreign tourists visiting Pakistan. It is now the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to advertise the tourism industry in accordance with the collaboration of private sector.
Likewise, media industry of Pakistan can also collaborate with the Chinese media. An Urdu dubbed Chinese drama has been on-aired on the state television of Pakistan. Such initiatives from private TV channels would be warmly welcomed by the Chinese media. Pakistan and China will also jointly produce a movie as was announced after Pakistan’s first participation in Silk road International film festival. The SCO Film Festival also helped introduce Pakistani films to Chinese audiences. Five films were screened at the festival and “Punjab Nahi Jaongi” won the Jury Special Award at the grand closing ceremony. Chinese can also be provided time slots on the private radio channels as a good number of Chinese population has shifted to various cities of Pakistan.
Although a cultural agreement between Pakistan and China was signed in 1965, another agreement has been signed more recently to intensify the exchanges between the two states. An executive program of the Cultural Agreement for 2018-2022 was signed between Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and China’s Ministry of Culture and tourism. This agreement holds substantial potential for bridging language and cultural barriers between the masses of both the states. It is now up to both the governments to implement and materialize projects of this agreement, in order to boost the cultural cooperation between both the states. Chinese citizens in Pakistan have been increasing with each passing day due to CPEC projects and least attention on cultural issues can be problematic for the citizens of both the states, ultimately impacting the economic cooperation.
Similarly, there are still many avenues in sports that can be explored by both the states. Pakistani coaches can train Chinese nationals in Cricket and Hockey and more Chinese players can be given the opportunity in the league cricket of Pakistan. International exposure to the local players of both the states along with certain benefits of modern-day training and coaching will certainly boost the morale of players and will benefit them in their personal capacities in order to serve their respective states. An important development can be cooperation between both the states in motivating and promoting woman in different sports. It has always been difficult for woman in Pakistan to pursue their career in sports due to cultural barriers. With the current advancement of relations with China, Pakistani woman can actually come forward and prove their abilities in all formats of sports. Rather talking about the concept of feminism in certain specific circles, provide woman with equal opportunities in culture & sports and all the other sectors of the society.
Sports and Culture are the most important sectors of society. Pakistan needs to promote its cultural identity that is unique, different and comprehensive. Cultural merger with China is the need of the day, but Pakistan can promote and benefit from this merger by promoting its film, drama, sports and tourism.
The writer is currently working as Executive Director IPCA