H.E. Mr. Mushtaq Victor,

Mr. President Iftikhar Arif,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,

Assamalekoh!

It is my great pleasure to be here to participate today's function.

Today is a big day. It is the first time that three important Chinese books, namely "Analects of Confucius" ,"Selection from the Chinese Poetry" and "Selection from the Chinese Literature " are translated into Urdu and published in Pakistan. What you have done, Mr. Arif, your colleagues and your Academy of Letters is making history of culture exchanges, civilization dialogue, spiritual linkages between our two brotherly countries.

We really appreciate your great contribution for this.

The friendship and contacts between our peoples have a time honored history. In the old days, they were linked by the Silk Road. In China's Tang dynasty, Hsuan-tsang, an eminent Chinese monk, studied Buddhism in Taxila for five years on his pilgrimage to the west. In the contemporary time, the Karakoram Highway, the Chashma Nuclear Power Plant and the Gwadar Port, jointly built by China and Pakistan, are new symbols of our friendship. Right now, I want to say that three Chinese books you translated into your language are the new symbols of our friendship.

Just before the Chinese President's state visit to Pakistan last November, to demonstrate the affection of Pakistani people for Chinese people, the professors and famous translators of the PAL led by Mr. Arif, had overcome many difficulties such as lack of information materials and tightness of time to translate and publish these three books.

Confucius was a great master and thinker in ancient China. "Analects of Confucius" is the most famous bible regarding his teachings and instructions. Several thousands years have passed, yet this bible still shows its strong spiritual influence in China. Knowing more about him and his Analects, you will know more about Chinese people and civilization. I am happy to tell you that with the active cooperation between the Education Ministries of our two countries, the Institute of Confucius, which is an educational organization for promotion of Chinese culture abroad, has been opened in the NUML since last April. I am sure that Confucius would be very happy if he knew he got so many Urdu readers right now.

The "Selection from the Chinese Poetry" covers the famous and classical poems in the old times of China, including the master prints of the most famous poet such as Li Bai and Du Fu. The "Selection from the Chinese Literature" is including a lot of classic and contemporary short stories. I am sure these two books will help Pakistani people understand Chinese People more and better.

I hope Pakistani friends will enjoy the three books and more and more Chinese books will be translated to Urdu. And I also will spare no effort to push the Chinese writers to translate and introduce the outstanding Urdu master prints to Chinese people.

Thank you all.