Pakistan and China jointly hosted Puppet Art Theater titled “Celebration of Pakistan-China Civilization and Cultural Heritage through Puppetry and Related Arts” in collaboration with Rafi Peer Theater Workshop in Beijing.

The cultural events including the puppetry show were held at the Grand Theater of Beijing Performance and Art Group, which coincided with World Puppetry Day.

The events were one of the key highlights of a year-long celebration to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.

In a statement issued by Rafi Peer Theater Workshop, “The event was attended by a large gathering of high-ranking officials from the official departments, members of the diplomatic corps, academia, think tanks, cultural organizations, and Pakistani and Chinese school children.”

The colourful and engaging display of cultural heritage, including puppetry, was in line with the vision of the leaders of Pakistan and China to pass on the traditional fraternal ties to the next generation and build a community of shared future in the new era.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are vital means to foster harmony, friendship, synergies and people’s history.

The art of puppetry has progressively evolved over the course of millennia and artistically captures various facets of folk culture, fables and story-telling traditions of the two countries. The audience was particularly fascinated to observe similarities in style, technique and rendition of Pakistani and Chinese puppetry.

Ambassador of Pakistan in China, Moin Ul Haque, congratulated the participating organizations for showcasing the intangible cultural heritage of Pakistan and China and the successful organisation of the event.

Pakistani envoy to China emphasized that both countries were deepening their cultural linkages to elevate the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new pedestal of bilateral cooperation.

Party Secretary and Chairperson of Beijing Performance and Art Group, Zhao Jiachen, President of China Puppet Arts Theater, Ms Zhao Yongzhuang, Mr Saadaan Peerzada, Director of the Rafi Peer Theater Workshop, and Ms Himalchuli Gurung, Programme Specialist for Culture of UNESCO.

They highlighted the importance of education through entertainment and preserving the rich cultures and traditional arts for the future generations.

Rafi Peer Theater Workshop and China Puppet Art Theater signed an MoU for more puppet shows and exchanges programs.

The statement reads, “Pakistan and China have planned more than hundred activities and events throughout 2021 to celebrate their multifaceted cooperative partnership and ironclad friendship.”