China International Publishing Group and the Pakistani embassy in China held a forum on media cooperation between China and Pakistan this afternoon to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Zhou Mingwei, president of China International Publishing Group (CIPG), speaks at the Forum on the 60th Anniversary of Pakistan-China Diplomatic Relations Media-to-Media Cooperation in Beijng, July 14, 2011. [China.org.cn]

CIPG President Zhou Mingwei spoke at the forum. He spoke highly of the development of relations between the two nations. "Keeping the all-weather relationship was not only the hope of the older leaders, but also a common strategic choice for the two countries," Zhou said. "During the past 60 years, the relationship between China and Pakistan has withstood the test of time and been increasingly promoted to new highs."

Traditionally, cooperation in politics and security has been the top priority factors. But under the theme of peace and development, China and Pakistan also expanded exchange and cooperation to trade, culture and other fields.

Zhou said media communication would play a unique role in boosting relations. "The people of the two countries have urgent demands to know each other beyond the barriers of different religion, culture and language, so media cooperation has more opportunities and greater challenges," he said.

He proposed that media workers adopt a strategic perspective and focus more on the common interests of two countries.

Pakistani Ambassador to China Masood Khan echoed Zhou's words in his address, saying the media in Pakistan and China are vibrant and interactive.

Pakistani ambassador to China Masood Khan speaks at the Forum on the 60th Anniversary of Pakistan-China Diplomatic Relations Media-to-Media Cooperation in Beijng, July 14, 2011. [China.org.cn]

"They are popular. They are growth industry. Hundreds of hundreds of young men and women are seeking careers in the traditional and new media. It is only natural the media of our two countries should have closer cooperation," he said.

The ambassador also spoke of the sound and strategic partnership between Pakistan and China. "Our defense cooperation is robust. Conscious efforts are being made to give a boost to our economic and trade cooperation. Now we are especially focusing on people to people contacts and cultural ties," Khan said.

Representatives from the Chinese media, including Xinhua, China Radio International, China Daily, Beijing Review, China.org.cn, Sina.com, Sohu.com, 163.com and QQ.com, had an in-depth discussion with 12 journalists from Pakistan Television, Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Associated Press of Pakistan and Dawn News.

CIPG has published many books in Urdu that have been sold in Pakistan, including "Selected works of Mao Tse-tung" and "The Song of Youth." Its Beijing Review magazine, published in English, has a number of readers in Pakistan. It released special issues in 2006 and 2011 to mark 55 years and 60 years of China-Pakistan relations. Chinese President Hu Jintao, former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and President Asif Ali Zardari? sent their congratulations to the special editions.

Mahnaz Rahman, a specialist in Urdu at China Pictorial Publishing House, was awarded a national friendship award in 1992.

People who attended the forum include Zhang Weiguo, counsellor of the Department of Asian Affairs of China's Foreign Ministry, Mohammad Iqbal, the director of External Publicity Wing of Pakistan's Ministry of Information; former Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Zhou Gang; Tang Mengsheng, director of the Center for Pakistan Studies at Peking University; and representatives of former Chinese diplomats to Pakistan.