The Embassy of Pakistan in China held a flag-hoisting ceremony to celebrate Pakistan's 78th Independence Day on Wednesday.
The Independence Day falls on August 14 every year to mark Pakistan's independence from British rule in 1947.
To mark the occasion, attendees donned traditional Pakistani attire, the shalwar kameez, as the embassy courtyard came alive with music and a festive atmosphere.
Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan's Ambassador to China, said that his country "takes a lot of pride" in what it has achieved nationally, and also hailed the strength of ties with China, with the two neighbors having been described as "iron brothers."
"Looking at Pakistan-China relations, we also take a lot of pride in having developed a very stable, a very strong bilateral, strategic partnership between our two countries," said Hashmi.
The ambassador noted that there is no area in which the two countries have not engaged bilaterally, with cooperation spanning the realms of diplomacy, politics, defense, economy, trade, investment, culture, education, agriculture, and science and technology. Hashmi also expressed deep admiration for the recently-concluded Paris Olympics and praised the performances of athletes from both China and Pakistan who showed great grit and determination in their chosen events.
"What I found most amazing is I saw some of the glimpses of how Chinese athletes and sportspersons have performed. I think it was a treat to watch them, that spoke to their very hard work, but also talent and resilience in the face of several pressures. But they stood out, and I think they made China proud. And I can tell you that this is also the case in Pakistan," said Hashmi.
Following the flag-hoisting ceremony, the embassy conferred civil awards to two Chinese citizens, namely Sha Zukang, former president of the China-Pakistan Friendship Association, and Nong Rong, a former Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, for their distinguished contributions in cementing China-Pakistan relations.
Pakistani embassy in Beijing celebrates 78th anniversary of Pakistan's independence
