The sound of the instrument flowed with a merry gurgle through the fingertips of the player from Rixin College, drifting away from the venue all the way to reverberate in the Swat Valley.

Several college freshmen and sophomore were performing a song "You Stole My Heart" for the 70th Anniversary Symposium of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Pakistan. With the beauty of the Central Asian girls blooming out of the exotic costume, and the Pakistan-styled silk floating in the wind, Chinese and Pakistani people come closer in culture, as well as in hearts.

2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Pakistan diplomatic relations, and the "International Symposium of the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Pakistan" was held at Tsinghua University on December 11-12 to embark on discussions about culture-related research between China and Pakistan.

“China-Pakistan friendship flourishes at Tsinghua University.” Peng Gang, Vice-president of Tsinghua University made an opening remark at the symposium, “Tsinghua University will continue to work hard for the training of Pakistani scientists, the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the people-to-people exchange between the two countries.”

“Pakistan and China have deep civilization root and mutual interactions. The friendship between Pakistan and China remains rock-solid and unbreakable throughout history.” Moin ul Haque, Pakistan Ambassador to China said in his opening remark.

Ji Rong, Counsellor of Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Director of Pakistan-China Institute and Zhang Chunxiang, former Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan attended the opening ceremony.

Professor Li Xiguang issued the initiative of the symposium, and it was hosted by Tsinghua International Center for Communication Studies and organized by Tsinghua University Center for Pakistan Cultural and Communication Studies.

“I have eaten compressed dry food and the water we drank was melted from ice and snow.” Former ambassador Zhang Chunxiang said in his keynote speech. He has worked as an interpreter and translator for China’s Command of the Road Construction Aid for Pakistan. During 1974-1979, he was climbing the Karakorum and the Hindu Kush Mountain with ice axes in hands. And now, all their hard work is all paid off.

The symposium attracted over 150 scholars and students from China and Pakistan. Three panels were held to show that the two countries’ “ironclad” friendship has been further elevated, including speeches about Uddiyana Valley Fine Arts & China-Pakistan Cultural Corridor, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road initiative.

Through academic exchanges, the symposium has shared comprehensive and in-depth research of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, providing reference and advice for the practice of the Belt and Road Initiative in both countries and strengthening contact of the people along the route.

By Zou Yuqin, Chen Jiaying