BEIJING, Oct 13 (APP): Fauzia Gilani, Wife of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said enhanced cultural ties betweenPakistan and China can serve as a platform for strong interaction between their next generations. She was speaking at the first anniversary of Pakistan Art, Film and Music Academy here on Tuesday.

At the academy Chinese children are learning Pakistani classical dance.

She said, “Institutions like Pakistan Film and Music Academy can play a very important role in encouraging people-to-people contact by promoting each other’s cultures.”

Mrs. Gilani said, “our two countries have a rich and varied culture which is thousands of years old and has many colorful customs and a vibrant tradition of music and performing arts.”

She said bilateral relations between Pakistan and China have flourished and blossomed over the past six decades in diverse fields.

She mentioned that Pakistan and China have been the cradles of many ancient civilizations and cultural heritage.

“We should undertake every possible effort in ensuring that in our march towards modernization, our customs, value system, arts and crafts and music are not relegated to a secondary position.”

She said, “culture is the essence of existence and cultural art satisfy human heart. It is what adds color to our lives, and links our present to our past.”

The dances of Kashmir and Indonesia, the rhythms of China and Pakistan, the Opera and sur tal may have origins miles away and apart, but the feelings and emotions they represent are all the same and human, she added.

Calling Madame Zhu Ming Ying, principal of the academy, a famous and legendary artist, Mrs. Gilani said, “Her versatile talents and mastery are recognized not only in China but all over the world. It is a matter of honour for us that she has had a long association with Pakistan. Through her students, I am sure our cultural interaction will be further expanded in the future.”

She expressed the confidence that the academy would continue to play a very significant role in introducing all faces of Pakistani culture to the Chinese people.

She assured of all support of the government and people of Pakistan in endeavours of the Chinese academy.

Later, wife of ambassador to Pakistan Zohra Masood Khan hosted a luncheon in honour of wife of the Prime Minister.