SPECIAL INVESTITURE CEREMONY HELD AT BEIJING

October 22,2020

A special Investiture Ceremony was held at the Embassy of Pakistan, Beijing on 22nd October, 2020. On behalf of President of Pakistan, the civil awards of Pakistan were conferred by the Ambassador on Chinese dignitaries Dr. Zhao Baige and Ms. Geng Ying, in recognition of their services towards Pakistan and strengthening of Pakistan-China relations.

Dr. Zhao Baige is the Vice Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee of National People’s Congress (NPC). She had the honor of being elected as Vice President of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 2013. She is a great friend of Pakistan and an ardent advocate of Pakistan-China friendship. In her capacity as Vice Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress, she was instrumental in promoting friendly relations and high-level exchanges between Pakistan and China. She has also played an important role in the materialization of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Belt and Road Initiative of the Chinese Government. As Chair of the “Belt and Road” International Think Tank under the Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), Research and Development International (RDI), she launched the Karamay Initiative aiming to promote economic and commercial ties between Pakistan and China. She has led many delegations to Pakistan to advance the ongoing economic cooperation, promotion of investment, people-to-people exchanges and collaboration between intelligentsia and think tanks. In recognition of her outstanding services to Pakistan Hilal-e-Imtiaz was conferred upon her. 

Ms.  Geng Ying is the President of China Cultural Heritage Foundation (CCHF). She is a great patron of Chinese art, culture and has organized a large number of art exhibitions in China and worldwide. One set of Ms. Geng’s art, titled “Celebrations’ on the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Pakistan – Oriental Charm: “Chinese Cultural Trip to Pakistan” is especially noteworthy as a commendable extension of Pakistan-China friendship in the domain of fine arts. During 2013, a set of her Chinese paintings were exhibited in the achievement exhibition titled “Oriental Charm – Artistic Expression of Cultural Heritage through Paper” presented at UNESCO headquarters in France. Her albums of paintings have been collected by art museums in USA, Japan, Europe and many other countries. Ms. Geng and CCHF played a key role in the publication of “Pak-Cheen Dosti”, a bilingual anthology of poetry on Pakistan-China friendship. She was also prominently involved in the project to start a “Friendship Bamboo” plantation in the Chinese city of Wuhan using saplings from the erstwhile residence of the Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan in Karachi. In recognition of her outstanding services to Pakistan Sitara-i-Pakistan was conferred upon Ms. Geng Ying.

The event was attended well by the senior officials of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development & Reform Commission, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Chamber of International Commerce, China Cultural Heritage Foundation, officers of Pakistan Embassy and media representatives.