Chinese Consulate Lahore has conferred 21 "Friendship Awards 2022" to prominent Pakistani individuals and institutions in a ceremony held at Lahore Gymkhana Club, Gwadar Pro  reported it on Friday. This year, the Consulate has, based on the merits and contributions of the relevant stakeholders and taking representation into account, chosen 17 excellent individuals and 4 institutions from different fields and areas as the Friendship Award recipients. Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR), a think-tank dedicated to Sino-Pak relations, global diplomacy, CPEC and BRI, is also among the recipient of "Friendship Awards 2022". 

Speaking on the occasion, Chinese Consul General Lahore Zhao Shiren said that the year of 2022 almost drawing to a close, it is high time to celebrate wonderful efforts and great endeavors made by 21 individuals and institutions in strengthening Pak-China bilateral relations and enhancing practical cooperation in various sectors. He said that Prime Minister Shehbaz paid his successful maiden visit to China, and CPEC is gaining new momentum into its high-quality development. "Although our two countries are facing and dealing with various kinds of difficulties, challenges and problems on both domestic and international fronts, the state of our bilateral relations is strong and will remain so and even grow stronger in the coming days.

Against this backdrop, the Consulate General of China in Lahore has also made its tireless efforts in promoting mutual trust, business cooperation, cultural and educational exchanges between China and the Punjab," he opined. "With the support and efforts of Pakistani friends, brothers and sisters of the media houses, think tanks, universities, business chambers, public institutions, consular corps, law enforcement agencies and Chinese associations, we are forging ahead together to make things happen," he concluded.  

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP