BEIJING: Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage Marriyum Aurangzeb has welcomed the proposal by Chinese Vice Minister of State Administration of Press Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) Tong Gang for working on an agreement between the two countries for cooperation in film production and infrastructure.
The minister, while dilating on collaboration between radio and television of both the countries, told the Chinese minister that the Pakistan government was formulating a film policy, which would include various incentives for revival of the film industry in Pakistan. She said that Pakistan was now producing good quality films for cinema viewers, however, it wanted to follow Chinese model to develop the film industry on modern lines.
Marriyum observed that presently China was collaborating with 19 countries in film production and Pakistan wanted to become its 20th partner in this field. She told the Chinese minister that Pakistan had set up a Chinese Cultural Centre at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.
She said that Pakistan was committed to participating in the film festival on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
The minister said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was all about the people and stressed the need for enhancing cultural collaboration between the two countries to familiarise them about the benefits the mega-economic initiative.
She said that CPEC was a flagship project of One Belt and One Road initiative announced by President Xi Jinping for shared prosperity and well-being of the people across the region and beyond.
Welcoming the delegation, Chinese Vice Minister said that China and Pakistan friendship was an example of brotherly relations for the world. He told Marriyum Aurangzeb that China was producing 700 films annually and had nearly 50,000 screens. China, he said, was keen to share its experience with Pakistan.
Pakistan Ambassador to China Masood Khalid, senior officials from both sides were also present at the meeting.
Published in Daily Times, February 6th 2018.
