Pakistan, China sign deal to enhance cultural ties, business connectivity

Islamabad: Pakistan and China has signed the bilateral Partnership to increase cultural ties and understanding between the business community and people of both sides.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Director China Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) Dr Talat Shabir and Chief Executive Officer of RINSTRA Technologies Amir Jahangir, said a news release issued here.

The Video Content Competition on Pakistan China relationship will be launched to promote culture and trade between the two countries.

Speaking at the occasion, Director General (DG) Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) Ambassador Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhary said “The ISSI provides a platform for quality policy input through informed research, objective analysis and dialogue on regional and international issues affecting peace, security and development of Pakistan.

“We are confident that this partnership will create knowledge resources among the youth and the business community alike while providing strategic direction for policy makers” he said.

Chief Executive Officer RINSTRA Technologies Amir Jahangir said “In this new era of information engagement it is important to build the vocabulary and understanding around the partnerships that both Pakistan and China are striving for.

Amir Jahangir this cooperation between CPSC and RINSTRA will set a new benchmark for understanding around the future challenges for our international partnerships.

He said that through ‘Public diplomacy discourse’ this partnership is being signed to build better understanding among the masses and the business community in both China and Pakistan.

He said the partnership will also facilitate content development in Mandarin, Urdu and English.

He said that more than 60,000 Chinese expats live in Pakistan and more than 20,000 Pakistani students are studying in Chinese universities. Pakistan exports to China stood at US$1.87 billion during 2020, he added.

Amir further said that the multibillion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has strengthened China Pakistan partnership yet there is much more work required in people-to-people Relationship Building in Knowledge Development.

He said that RINSTRA is the outcome of the thought leadership of Dice Foundation USA’s Creative Arts and Media Initiative (DICE CAM).

He informed that it is part of Dice Foundation’s National Innovation Basket (NIB) program, which aims to create media as cornerstones of Pakistan’s growth strategy.

Amir said that RINSTRA is Pakistan’s first short-form digital media platform for on-demand streaming and for creation of user generated original content on iRINSTRA.

The organization provides entrepreneurship opportunities to emerging and established content creators and film makers in Pakistan and beyond, he added.

He said that RINSTRA gives content creators access to a large Pakistani community around the globe, and it has been able to create a unique platform that offers dramas and films, while enabling users to generate their own content on the same platform.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said that RINSTRA It also has a feature for Content Competition where, more than 100 academic institutions in Pakistan are competing on various thematic areas.

The Fest feature of the application has provided some of the leading Film Festivals to partner with RINSTRA for digital viewing of their films and documentaries. This has created an unprecedented experience for viewers in the country, he said.

Creative and independent content with premier shows and films can be accessed on RINSTRA by visiting the website http://www.rinstra.com or downloading apps from the Google Play Store and/or Apple App Store.

On the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Dr Talat Shabir Director ISSI said “The memorandum of understanding underlines to build cultural, business and economic cooperation and understanding.

The partnership will also highlight China and Pakistan’s cooperation and implication for the region and the world.

This partnership will help build people to people relationships, Government relations in defense cooperation and societal collaboration for building knowledge ecosystems.

It is pertinent to mention that after the establishment in August 2016, the China Pakistan Study Center is the leading think tank in Pakistan, focusing on public policy, diplomacy and building cultural understanding between China and Pakistan.

Considering the evolving regional and global scenarios, CPSC has been tasked with carrying out dedicated research and analysis of China’s policies, and their impact on Pakistan and the region.

CPSC is also engaged in national and international outreach to promote better understanding of Pakistan-China relations, develop linkages with think-tanks in China and advance people to people contacts.

Diplomatic relations between People’s Republic of China and Pakistan was established on 21 May 1951.

Although people-to -people understanding between two countries is exemplary, cultural understanding between businesses and people can be improved. For the purpose China Pakistan Study Center (CPSC) at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) and RINSTRA signed a memorandum of understanding.