Dean’s reception for ambassadors

Dean of the diplomatic corps, Turkmenitan’s Ambassador Atajan Movlamov, held a lunch reception the day before the Eid holidays to bid farewell to two envoys and welcome two new ones. Norwegian Ambassador Tore Nedrebø and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner Jayanath Lokuketagodage were both leaving after about three-year postings to Pakistan.

In their speeches, both envoys expressed gratefulness to fellow diplomats and the Pakistan authorities for a great time in the country.

Retired Gen Lokuketagodage said he would cherish his memories from Pakistan till the time of his death. “But before that, I hope to visit Pakistan many times”, he said. Mr. Nedrebø used more prosaic words as he emphasized the increased commercial cooperation between his country and Pakistan.

The dean also welcomed the recently arrived Greek Ambassador Dimitris Hatzopoulos and the Ambassador of Lebanon Ghassan El Khatob, who arrived in spring. There had not been any event for all the envoys and heads of UN organizations to introduce the Lebanese ambassador sooner, explained Mr. Movlamov.

He said he appreciated that so many envoys and acting envoys had found the opportunity to attend the event in spite of it being holiday season and also just before Eidul Azha.

A diplomat from Jordan said that in his country, Eid had started one day earlier than in Pakistan, and that he found it pleasant to begin the religious feast by meeting fellow diplomats. He and other diplomats seemed to be of the same opinion and stayed long during the buffet lunch.

The outgoing envoys left with good memories and a carved chest of drawers with the names of all the fellow envoys in the inlaid brass cover.

“I now have to find all my jewellery to fill the chest”, mused Anne Dessingtin, wife of the Norwegian ambassador, holding a bouquet of farewell flowers.

Chinese envoy speaks at photo exhibition

At the opening of a photo exhibition titled Mera Pakistan at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad recently, Chinese ambassador Yao Jing spoke about culture and people-to-people cooperation between China and Pakistan.

He also took time to express his appreciation of the strong diplomatic relations, and he emphasized the importance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, notably the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Ambassador Yao Jing said that nine CPEC projects have already been completed, 13 are in progress, and 15 energy projects are in planning, which will increase the electricity output by about 11,000 megawatt, and over 7,000 megawatt are already about to be produced.

The event was attended by Syed Ali Zafar, former interim minister of information, broadcasting, national history and literary history, and PNCA Director General Syed Jamal Shah PNCA has a sizeable exhibition on Chinese art and it houses a Chinese Cultural Centre at a separate section above the large auditorium.

“It is frequently used for various events, such as two recent lectures on the philosophy behind traditional Chinese medicine”, explained a cultural attaché.

“I am glad that the Sino-Pak cooperation increasingly includes art, culture, language and philosophy. Roads and electricity are important, but not all”, said a Pakistani guest who is a frequent participant at such events.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2018