LAHORE: Chinese Consul General in Lahore Zhao Shiren on Saturday praised the strong people-to-people links between China and Pakistan, saying individuals from different walks of life had played a key role in strengthening the “iron-clad” friendship between the two countries.
Speaking at the China-Pakistan Friendship Award Ceremony held at the Governor House Lahore, Zhao congratulated the award recipients for their services in areas such as investment, media, education, cultural exchange and security. He said their efforts had helped build trust, understanding and cooperation, adding new strength to bilateral relations.
The consul general noted that the awardees came from diverse backgrounds but shared a common commitment to promoting friendship between the two nations. Some had worked to boost bilateral investment, while others had used media platforms to share positive stories of China-Pakistan relations. Teachers had introduced Pakistani students to the Chinese language and culture, while security officials had ensured the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan.
Highlighting the activities of Chinese Consulate in Punjab over the past year, Zhao said close cooperation with local partners had helped deepen mutual ties. He said more than 500 students from 10 universities had benefited from the Chinese Consul General Scholarship, aimed at supporting education and preparing future leaders and ambassadors of friendship.
Referring to humanitarian cooperation, he said China stood with Pakistan during recent floods by providing relief supplies to more than 3,000 affected people and helping communities rebuild. He added that visits to cities across Punjab, including Gujrat, Sialkot, Sargodha, Kasur and Multan, allowed him to better understand local needs and concerns.
Zhao also mentioned educational and cultural exchanges, including visits of Pakistani university and media representatives to China, as well as South Punjab officials’ visit to Xinjiang to explore cooperation in agriculture. Public events such as the Chinese Film Festival and China-Pakistan Love Festival Expo, he said, helped share China’s history, culture and development with the Pakistani public.
Addressing the ceremony, Special Secretary Home Department Punjab Fazal Ur Rehman said the award symbolised the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and China, which had continued to grow stronger over time. He expressed gratitude to the Chinese Consulate in Lahore for the nomination, calling it a reflection of mutual trust, respect and shared vision. Rehman said that since 2022, during the tenure of Consul General Zhao Shiren, Chinese investment in Punjab had increased by $2.2 billion, with several Chinese-supported and owned projects becoming operational. To address issues faced by Chinese nationals, he added, a coordination committee comprising representatives from the Chinese Consulate and provincial authorities had been established, ensuring timely resolution of matters through regular consultation.
He said the Punjab government had also taken steps to facilitate Chinese nationals, including the establishment of executive lounges at major airports across the province. Improved air connectivity, he added, had further strengthened people-to-people contact, with Southern China Airlines operating regular flights to Lahore and Rawalpindi.
DIG Police Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran, who received the Chinese Consulate General Friendship Award, said the honour recognised the collective efforts of police personnel and partner institutions committed to ensuring the safety of Chinese nationals. He said the Pakistan-China relationship was clearly visible in Lahore’s infrastructure, industry and daily life, with over 1,300 Chinese nationals working across more than 500 installations in the city.
