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Pakistan Studies/On the afternoon of September 17, 2023, Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences held a cultural exchange event at the lecture hall on the fifth floor of the College Library to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The event was organized to review the long-standing friendship between the two countries, share personal experiences of educational and cultural exchange, and further promote mutual understanding among young people.
The event was attended by Professor Tang Jun, Director of the Pakistan Research Center at Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences; Wang Zhigang, a teacher from the College’s Foreign Affairs Office who previously taught at Aitchison College in Pakistan; Sun Haihong, a teacher from the Department of Foreign Languages who previously taught at the National University of Modern Languages in Pakistan; Dr. Alex Ummer, a Pakistani scholar at the College; and nearly 200 teachers and students.
During the event, Professor Tang Jun gave an overview of the College’s exchange and cooperation with Pakistan. He recalled that the visit of Masood Khan, then Ambassador of Pakistan to China, to the College in 2010 marked the beginning of Honder’s friendly exchanges with Pakistan. Over the following 11 years, successive Pakistani ambassadors visited the College five times, giving strong support to educational and cultural cooperation.
Professor Tang noted that, by the time of the event, the College had sent more than 40 teachers and students to Pakistan for teaching, study and exchange, and had received more than 60 Pakistani students. He emphasized that the 70th anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations was an important moment to look back on past achievements and look forward to future cooperation. Taking educational exchange, cultural communication and academic research as key areas, the College will continue to deepen cooperation with Pakistani institutions and make new contributions to China-Pakistan friendship.
Dr. Alex Ummer also shared his experience of studying and living in China. He used three words — “helpful,” “kind” and “nice” — to describe his personal impression of China and the people he met during his stay. He said that his time in China had not only enriched his academic knowledge, but also broadened his vision and enabled him to make many teachers and friends. He described this experience as one of the most valuable memories of his life. Dr. Ummer expressed his willingness to serve as a bridge for cultural and educational exchanges between Honder and Pakistan, and to actively contribute to the friendship between the two countries.
Wang Zhigang shared his teaching experience at Aitchison College in Pakistan. He introduced a well-known saying in Pakistan that China-Pakistan friendship is “higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel.” Through his own experiences in Pakistan, he spoke warmly of the friendliness and hospitality of the Pakistani people toward China and Chinese teachers. He also expressed the hope that exchanges and cooperation with Pakistani universities and schools would continue to expand in the future.
Sun Haihong shared her experience of teaching at the National University of Modern Languages in Pakistan. Drawing on her personal observations, she introduced Pakistan’s geographical features, historical background, cultural traditions and artistic charm. She described Pakistan’s natural scenery, distinctive cultural heritage and warm hospitality, encouraging students to study hard, broaden their international vision and actively participate in future people-to-people exchanges with Pakistan.
The event created a warm and engaging atmosphere. Through lectures, personal stories and cultural sharing, teachers and students gained a deeper understanding of Pakistan and the history of China-Pakistan friendship. The activity also helped strengthen students’ awareness of international communication and encouraged them to become participants and promoters of friendly exchanges between the two countries.
The friendship between Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences and Pakistan began in 2010, when Masood Khan, then Ambassador of Pakistan to China, visited the College for the first time. This visit opened a new chapter of cooperation between Honder and Pakistan. Over the past decade, successive Pakistani ambassadors have visited the College five times, providing valuable support for educational and cultural exchanges.
In 2011, with the support and arrangement of the Embassy of Pakistan in China, a delegation of 25 teachers and students from Honder visited Pakistan. During the visit, the delegation established cooperative relations with several Pakistani universities and educational institutions, laying a solid foundation for future exchanges.
In 2015, Honder welcomed its first group of eight Pakistani students under the scholarship program supported by the Embassy of Pakistan in China. Since 2017, the College has received four groups of Pakistani government scholarship students, with a total of 61 students coming to study at Honder.
From 2011 to 2018, Honder sent more than 40 teachers and students to Pakistan in several groups. They taught Chinese and studied at institutions such as Aitchison College and the National University of Modern Languages. These programs played an active role in promoting Chinese language education, educational cooperation and cross-cultural understanding.
To further strengthen cooperation with Pakistan and promote Pakistan-related studies, the College established the Masood Hall, named after Ambassador Masood Khan. The hall houses a large collection of historical materials, books, cultural items and precious exhibits related to Pakistan and China-Pakistan friendship. The College also established the Pakistan Research Center at Inner Mongolia Honder College of Arts and Sciences, which has become an important platform for academic research, cultural exchange and educational cooperation.
With the support of Pakistani ambassadors, partner institutions and friends from both countries, Honder’s exchanges with Pakistan have continued to deepen. Looking ahead, the College will further promote cooperation in education, culture, research and youth exchange, and continue to contribute to the enduring friendship between China and Pakistan.
