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    Language leading to a better future - Chinese Language gains popularity in Pakistan

    Written by: Xinhua
    Posted on: August 01, 2018 | | 中文

    Certificates awarded to Pakistani Students on completion of HSK-1

    "If you speak Chinese, it is very easy to find a job in Pakistan, especially in Chinese enterprises," Abbas, a junior college student, answered when the journalist asked him why he chose to learn Chinese.

    Not long ago, while watching the "Happy Spring Festival" variety performance at Pakistan’s National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Abbas sat beside the journalist. Upon knowing that the journalist was from China, Abbas began to speak Chinese. He said he would go to China to learn Chinese this year, and three relatives from his family were already studying Chinese in Shanghai.

    "Now that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is under construction, a lot of Pakistani people need translation from Chinese to Urdu in their work for the project," said Abbas.

    Recently, the Pakistan Senate has adopted a resolution to encourage CPEC human resource training programs to provide Chinese courses, and thus reduce communication barriers caused by the language problem.

    Teachers checking the exams of students

    Teachers checking the exams of students

    Zhang Daojian, Director of the Confucius Institute in Islamabad, said that although the resolution was only a suggestion, it reflected that the use of Chinese language has gained more and more attention in Pakistan. There are more than 5000 students studying Chinese at the Confucius Institute in Islamabad and other teaching sites that cooperate with the Institute, and the number does not include those who have been studying Chinese language in Confucius classes and local private language schools.

    "The number of Pakistanis learning Chinese is increasing, especially after 2015. We had only 30 to 40 students enrolled each year in the past, but now more than 400 people are enrolled every year. We have opened 14 classes, which is the maximum capacity of the institute, yet still our Chinese classes are in short supply,” said Zhang.

    Since 2012, Chinese language teaching institutions in Pakistan have blossomed like mushrooms after rain. In just a few years, the number of Confucius Institutes grew from only one to four.

    "By 2013, the number of examinees taking the HanyuShuipingKaoshi (HSK), the Chinese language proficiency test, was only a little more than 100 every year. Now, over 1000 people have registered for the test at each Confucius Institute," said Zhang.

    According to the statistics from the Confucius Institute in Islamabad, only 671 candidates registered for the HSK in 2015, but the figure soared to 3659 in 2017.

    Zhang said that in 2015, many CPEC construction projects started to be implemented, which created a large number of employment opportunities for Pakistanis, and many Pakistani people saw the hope of changing their life through learning Chinese language.

    Pakistani students learning the Chinese culture

    Pakistani students learning the Chinese culture

    "Some Pakistani people who speak fluent Chinese even become senior managers of Chinese enterprises in the local places. After mastering the language, they have really changed their life trajectory,” he said.

    At the same time, more and more Pakistani students regard China as their first choice for studying abroad. According to a recent statistic released by Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, about 2500 Pakistan students went to China for further education in 2017 alone. Studying in China is also one of the driving forces for Pakistani students to learn Chinese.

    Mina once studied Chinese for a year at Beijing Language and Culture University. In September of this year, she will go to Beijing to study Chinese again. “China is a neighbor and a good friend of Pakistan, so we should understand and use Chinese language. This will enable Pakistan's younger generation to broaden their horizons. Now with CPEC, Chinese has really become the language for Pakistani people to change their future,” said Mina.

     

    Translated by Xu Donglin


    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