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    An Interview with Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin: Experiences of a Chinese-Pakistani

    Written by: Mehr Jan
    Posted on: April 28, 2020 | | 中文

    Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin

    The current pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of societies the world over on a massive scale. Such outbreaks often instill a sense of fear among people, and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has uncovered fault-lines in the society in various ways. The chaos and uncertainty is getting the better of people, and racism, prejudice and bigotry then surface on the sidelines. While China has always been one of our strongest allies, beyond officialdom, the people-to-people connectivity is the centerpiece of our friendship.

    A little-noticed fact is that Pakistan is home to a small, thriving Chinese-Pakistani community. In search of a better life, Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin’s parents migrated to Pakistan in the eighties. She was born in Lahore in 1988, and while such a significant relocation could bring about an identity crisis, Vicky enjoys the best of both worlds. Soaking the cultural richness, diversity, history, traditions, as well as mastering both native languages with ease, she has been making the most of her situation.

    Vicky with her father in 1989 (photo credits to Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin)

    Speaking to Youlin, Vicky said: “At home, I am a complete ‘Cheeni’ (the endearing term in Urdu for ‘Chinese), but as soon as I step out, it’s a complete switch, which sometimes leaves friends and strangers bewildered, but that’s the fun of it.”

    Despite not travelling to China during the past 20 years or so, she feels great pride in that part of her Chinese roots, as much as she does in being a desi (Pakistani). Having formed strong friendships over the years, Vicky is content with how her life has panned out, allowing her to consider both countries as major influences on her life and value system.

    Vicky's Family in China in 1997 -(photo credits to Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin)

    Creativity through Art

    Vicky is also one of the founders and directors of ‘Olomopolo’, a performance art theatre group that has been showcasing the similarities between both countries through art and theatrical projects. When asked about how it all began, she said, “My love for theatre originated as a third grader when I took part in a school play, in which a professional director was tasked to look over the modest production. The interest, however, peaked when I was in A Levels; it just felt like something I really wanted to do. Unfortunately, I thought I had given up on it when I went to Business School, but then somehow, it pulled me back into its world when I was in college, when I did my first commercial theater production, “The Corpse Bride”, directed by Hashim Ali. I then co-directed and wrote the play ‘The Forsaken’ the following year, with my friends, Hamza Ghaznavi as co-director, and Sarah Gilani as our art director. It led to more opportunities, ideas and interest, as I met great artists like Kanwal Khoosat, Iram Sana, FyqueNadeem and Sania Saeed. It was this group that was cosmically drawn together, and created OLOMOPOLO Media back in 2013, and we're still at it with OLOMOPOLO .”

    Some of the Founders of Olomopolo (Including Vicky) celebrating Olomopolo's Third Anniversary

    There is a recent subdivision in OLOMOPOLO called ‘OLO People’, which aims to celebrate the different cultures found in Pakistan. The Lantern Festival was one such celebration, through which Vicky presented to the audience how Chinese people in Pakistan commemorate the Chinese New Year. “I also did a fun segment in which I compared how both cultures are marriage obsessed, and how we celebrate Chinese New Year in the same spirit as Eid is celebrated here.”

    Celebrating the Chinese New Year at Olomopolo

    Olomopolo has been presenting and experimenting with different works of art, across mediums of theatre, stage performance and interactive theater, which engages the audience. They have tackled multiple genres, from fantasy to social commentary to folk theatre.

    “We've been able to push the boundaries in terms of performances, by constantly challenging ourselves and the (often repeated and boring) social narratives that we are so used to in our society. The best part is that we work with different age groups, so it really is a fun mix of things to do”, she added.

    At AlHamra Arts Council, Lahore

    Solidarity against Coronavirus

    Aside from theatre, Vicky has also founded the social media initiative ‘The Cheeni Chronicles’, which documents her everyday experiences. Recently, her attention has shifted to conversations about racism and diversity. Calling it her passion project, Vicky revealed that its purpose is to embrace one’s identity and celebrate one’s uniqueness, as opposed to hiding it for fear of ridicule. This is a message that is strongly needed in present times.

    Vicky as Majnu in a College Play (phtoto credits to Dawn)

    “In Pakistan, prejudice against the ‘other’ is a result of the homogeneity of society. The moment somebody sees someone else being different or looking different, we kind of start asking strange questions or, sometimes, even trying to make fun of them, simply because they are different from the majority of people.”

    She explained how the pandemic has regrettably resulted in a perpetuation of racism, especially for people who look ‘Chinese’, although such stigmatizing is totally unacceptable. President Trump initially had the temerity to call it ‘Chinese Virus’.

    “People are being judgmental and COVID-19 is the new slur for "Chinese" people, often incorrectly for Asians who aren’t even from China.” While the concerns over the deadly virus are understandable, the stereotyping resulting from it is shameful. Vicky highlighted the fact that the virus doesn’t discriminate among races in its spread. Certain dangerous misconceptions need to be eradicated, and efforts made to forge a collective approach to confront a ‘common enemy’ in the form of the Coronavirus.

    “Rather than wasting time on looking for scapegoats, I think if people worked together, did their part in protecting their loved ones and the people around them, we'd end up with a better world. Instead of excluding an entire race and putting labels and location on the virus, the time is to show solidarity.”

    You can follow Vicky’s take on the world at @cheenichronicles on Instagram.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021