ISLAMABAD, July 24 -- A group of 40 Pakistani teachers left for Beijing on Sunday to get training on how to impart the Chinese language efficiently under the 2017 International Chinese Language Teacher Training Program sponsored by the Chinese government.
A special see-off ceremony for the teachers was held at the Chinese embassy in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad which was attended by Zhao Lijian, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese embassy, Arshad Ali, executive director of Pakistan's Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and teachers.
It is the third batch of Pakistani teachers visiting China for language training since 2015. So far, at least 120 Pakistani teachers have got training under the program.
A total of 40 teachers, including 26 females and 14 males, from different institutes across Pakistan, will get training under the 15-day program, being organized and sponsored by the Chinese embassy in Islamabad in collaboration with Beijing Municipal Commission of Education and Beijing International Education Exchange Center.
On the occasion, Chargé d'Affaires Zhao said "language is a bridge among different cultures, a bridge to bring our hearts closer to each other. If you could master the Chinese language, you will get a better understanding of the essence of the Chinese culture and the way of thinking, thus you can better communicate and work with Chinese friends."
Zhao appreciated Pakistani teachers for bearing greater responsibilities to teach young students about China and China-Pakistan friendship.
Addressing the ceremony, Ali expressed thanks to the Chinese government for starting such initiatives to strengthen bonds of friendship.
"I hope that the visiting Pakistani teachers will bring back not only training but also memories and experiences of Chinese rich culture to pass on to their students and other country fellows. The visit will be a source of inspirations for the continuation of China-Pakistan deep-rooted friendly relations from generation to generation," said Ali.
Masooma Nayyar, a headmistress of a school from Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan, told Xinhua that the visit to China is going to be a great booster in her career and life.
"I am very excited and believe that the training will help me understand Chinese culture and language better," said Nayyar.
Since the start of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistani people especially youngsters have been more eager to learn the Chinese language than ever before. Currently, four Confucius Institutes have been working in different areas of Pakistan to impart the Chinese language to students from all walks of life.
