Chairperson PAL Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif Represents Pakistan at Global Literary Conferences in China
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif, recently represented Pakistani literati in two international conferences in China. The conferences, held in Dunhuang and Yangzhou, China, from May 29 to June 4, 2025, brought together over 400 delegates from nearly 60 countries across six continents. The Chairperson PAL received a very warm reception and she was made to lead a group of 28 delegates from various countries, including the USA, Australia, Ireland, Chile, Nigeria, Thailand, Nepal, India, South Korea, UAE, Madagascar, and China.
Prior to the conference, the Chairperson PAL participated in an interview with reporters from leading Chinese newspapers and television channels. Excerpts from the interview were subsequently aired on various channels, and she continued to receive requests for interviews from journalists throughout her stay.
The opening ceremony of the conference was presided over by China’s Vice President, His Excellency Han Zheng. A select group of twelve delegates, including the Chairperson PAL Dr. Najeeba Arif, had the privilege of meeting with the Vice President beforehand, during which he reaffirmed China’s commitment to respecting cultural diversity and collaborating with nations worldwide to promote humanity’s collective well-being. The Chairperson PAL expressed gratitude for China’s support of Pakistan, which the Vice President acknowledged warmly. The ceremony concluded with a traditional Chinese dance performance.
The conference featured eight parallel sessions and the Chairperson PAL gave her speech in the session titled “Equality, Inclusiveness, and Harmonious Coexistence: Multidimensional Narratives of Civilizations from Writers’ Perspective.”
The Chairperson PAL also delivered a keynote speech in the opening session of the second conference jointly organized by the Canal Walk Organizing Committee for World Canal Cities and Yangzhou University.
The delegates also visited historic sites, museums, and cultural institutions, including the Mogao Caves, Yumen Pass, Yangzhou Grand Canal Museum, slender West Lake, and Marco Polo Memorial Hall. These visits showcased China’s rich cultural heritage and provided opportunities for cultural exchange.
The President of Yangzhou University and the Vice President of Technical University, Lanzhou offered to collaborate with Pakistani universities, highlighting the potential for academic exchange and cooperation between the two countries.
The visit helped strengthened bilateral relations between Pakistan and China, promoting mutual literary collaboration between the two nations. Chairperson PAL Dr. Najeeba reiterated that PAL will continue to spread Pakistan’s soft image through literary excellence.
