Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: September 10, 2012 | 
| 中文
The China-Eurasia Expo 2012 held in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, opened in Urumqi on Sunday, September 1st. The opening ceremony was attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and a number of foreign leaders, including the heads of state of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikijstan, Cambodia and the Maldives, as well as leaders from Afghanistan and Turkey.The Expo is envisioned as a platform for economic exchange and cooperation between Xinjiang and other regions of China, as well as between Asian and European countries. This is the second year of the event. It was attended by participants from 55 countries as well as international organizations, and ended on Friday, 7th September.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of the Pakistan-China Institute ( PCI) led a delegation from Pakistan to attend the Expo as guests of the government of Xinjiang, which included the Editor of the Youlin magazine and website, Dr Dushka H.Saiyid, Ms Aiza Azam, Associate Editor, Youlin, and the Managing Director of Oxford University Press in Pakistan, Ameena Saiyid. The Chairman had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Xinjiang Government in July 2011, under which the PCI and the Culture Exchange Association of Xinjiang jointly produce the Youlin magazine, and was invited to be one of the key panel members at the China-Eurasia Publications Expo.
The opening ceremony of the event, held at the Xinjiang International Conference and Exhibition Center on September 3rd, was attended by members of publishing houses from all over the world. A brief address by the Vice Governor of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, His Excellency Teliwardy Abdurexit, introducedthe panel members and lauded their efforts in collaboration with publishing houses in Xinjiang. After the ceremony was officially launched by three of the main participants - His Excellency Vice Minister Wu Shulin, Hu Wei, Head of Information & Media of Xinjiang province, and Senator Mushahid Hussain - all in attendance followed the panel members to the main Expo hall where the publications of participating countrieswere displayed. The Pakistani display featured books published by Oxford University Press and 5 publications of the Pakistan Youlin Publications.
The China-Eurasia Publications Expo Forum was held later the same afternoon. Senator Mushahid was one of nine keynote speakers, which also included Vice Governor Abdurexit; WuShulin, His Excellency Vice Minister of the General Administration of Press and Publication; Nie Zhenning, Member of National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former president of China Publishing Group Corporation); Gulixian Tulahong, Director of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Press and Publication Bureau; Li Yan, Vice President China Publishing Group Corporation; GülgünÇarkoglu, General Manager Turkey Dogan Egmont Publishing Group; Fan Xian, General Manager China Publishing Group Corporation Joint Publishing; and Azhati Sulitan, Chairman of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Literary Foundation.
Senator Mushahid spoke about the importance of Xinjiang and its historical role as a trade and communication hub, and referred to it as an emerging “bridge of economic cooperation between Asia and Europe.” He underlined the historical role of Xinjiang as the pathway of the famous 'Silk Route', which brought Chinese scholars, traders and monks across the Karakorums into what is now present-day Pakistan, as far back as 2500 years ago when the first Buddhist University was already established at Taxila, close to Islamabad. He expressed optimism that the Kashgar Special Economic Zone, located close to Pakistan and the Central Asian Republics, would provide an impetus to regional economic cooperation, with economy and energy serving as a catalyst for closer camaraderie among these countries.
Senator Mushahid highlighted the main areas of strategic cooperation between Pakistan and China, and then defined the role of the Pakistan-China Institute, discussing its work and the various projects it has undertaken in pursuit of strengthening people to people relations. He also welcomed the peaceful rise of China in the context of the "Asian Century", terming it as a source of strength and stability for Pakistan and the region.
The Senator also addressed an audience the following day as a member of a panel at the Publishing Expo’s Sino-Foreign Co-Publishing Books Premiere. Speaking about the numerous collaborations between Xinjiang and various publishing houses, he lauded the Xinjiang government for its historic initiative and the steps it had taken to strengthen cross cultural linkages, not only within China, but also internationally, spanningorganizations across the globe. 5 books published by the Pakistan Youlin Publshing House were also launched. The organizers presented a special plaque to Ms Aiza Azam as Editor of Pakistan Youlin Publishing House.He reiterated that such steps were critical in fostering unity, harmony and tolerance among nations. He expressed Pakistan's solidarity with China in the battle against the 'three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism'.
On the evening of September 4th, Director Gulixian Tulahonghosted a formal dinner in honor of the delegation from Pakistan and expressed appreciation for the Pakistan-China Institute’s efforts towards consolidating relations between the two countries.
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