With the support of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, an 11-member media delegation from Balochistan, a province in southwestern Pakistan, embarked on a visit to China’s capital city, Beijing, and the picturesque coastal city of Qingdao. The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral ties between Pakistan and China, as well as foster cultural exchanges and explore opportunities for media collaboration, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday. The delegation, comprising journalists, editors, and media professionals, received a warm welcome from Chinese officials and media representatives upon their arrival in Beijing.  The visit began with a meeting and discussion with Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong at the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The meeting pointed out the path of development and provided important guidance for deepening cooperation and promoting exchanges between China and Pakistan. 

Furqan Rao, Incharge, China Desk, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), highlighted that the press crops are willing to bridge the “information gap” between the people of Balochistan and the Chinese people and contribute to the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In a meeting with Pakistan's Ambassador to China, H.E. Moin ul Haque, the delegation was briefed on bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, especially the current status of CPEC, which he described as the flagship project of the BRI and a strong symbol of Pakistan-China ties.

The media delegation appreciated China's role in the development of Gwadar and Balochistan and said projects such as Gwadar port, hospitals, schools, and roads have greatly contributed to regional connectivity and generated employment opportunities for local people. The Balochistan delegation also had the opportunity to visit various newsrooms and production facilities, gaining valuable insights into China’s media landscape at the Economic Daily and China Central Television Tower. During a meeting with Cui Jun, General Manager of China Economic Net, the delegation lauded the role of China Economic Net in promoting all-weather friendship between the two countries and highlighted the development being completed in different parts of Pakistan.

One of the key highlights of the visit was an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation between Pakistan and China under the SCO framework with the Pakistan-China Center at the SCO Demonstration Area. The Pakistan-China Center at the SCO Demonstration Area provided a platform for the delegation members to witness firsthand the progress being made in various sectors including education, agriculture and trade. Several renowned Chinese infrastructure and manufacturing enterprises and institutions, including Huawei, Origin Water, Qingdao Conson Group, Shandong Port, and Haier, were also included in the visit, providing reference experience for the expansion of Chinese industry in Balochistan. 

Speaking about the visit, Yar Muhammad Badini, Editor in Chief of Balochistan Today, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the significance of such exchanges.  He stated, “this visit has provided us with a valuable opportunity to better understand China’s splendid civilization with a long history and modern industries to explore avenues for collaboration.  We look forward to implementing the agreements reached during our visit and strengthening the ties between Balochistan and China.” The visit of the Balochistan media delegation to Beijing and Qingdao marks an important milestone in the bilateral relations between Balochistan and China.  The delegation members offered to play a positive role in bringing the people of Balochistan and China closer and contribute to further deepening of the relations between Pakistan and China.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China