ISLAMABAD: In an effort to further strengthen the cultural and literary bond between Pakistan and Romania, the Policy Institute for Peace and Development, in collaboration with the Romanian Embassy of and Bahria University, conducted a conference aimed at promoting cultural diplomacy between the two countries.

The conference was conducted under the topic “Allama Iqbal & Mihai Eminescu-cultural linkages between Pakistan and Romania.”

The aim of the conference was to pay tribute to the national poets of Pakistan and Romania and to highlight the uniqueness and similarities among them. The conference was specifically organised to mark the cultural day of Romania, which was the birthday of Mihai Eminescu.

Eduard-Robert Preda, who is Charge d’Affairs, Embassy of Romania, appreciated PIPD and Bahria University for organising the event and paid tribute to Mihai Eminescu (the National Poet of Romania), who was born on January 15, 1850.

He said that every year on January 15, Romania celebrates cultural day on the birthday of the great Mihai Eminescu, and highlighted its significance, and emphasized that this day serves to promote Romanian culture both within the country and abroad.

Eduard Robert Preda further added an overview of the legacy of the poet and how positively he transformed Romanian poetry, creating a distinct school of poetry that resonated strongly in the West, as he recited a poem by Eminescu in Romanian in an effort to convey it in the proper intellect and rhythm.

It offered a glimpse into the rich cultural tapestry of Romania, which was appreciated by the audience.

On this occasion, President Policy Institute for Peace and Development Wadana Gul stressed in her speech the crucial role of cultural diplomacy and people-to-people contact in bringing the nations closer.

She expressed the dire need for cross-cultural collaboration between Pakistan and Romania, both at the government and public levels, to further enhance the ties and foster the already strong diplomatic relations.

Retired Maj Gen Khalid Amir Jaffery delved into the rich history of Romania, noting its resilience through various empires, including the Roman Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.

He shared a lesser-known historical anecdote, recounting how soldiers from the British Indian Army, mainly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, fought alongside the Romanian Army in World War 1.

Highlighting the diplomatic relations established in 1964, Maj Gen Khalid Jaffery applauded the strong support Romania provided to Pakistan, particularly in matters such as the GSP plus issue, resulting in a significant 30 percent increase in Pakistan’s exports to Europe and further highlighting the vast potential for export and import between the two countries.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024