Chinese, Pakistani cultures celebrated at food festival mark

By Meng Fanrong

ISLAMABAD, May 5 (China Economic Net) - The sizzle of skewers, the twang of a Chinese zither and the hearty laughter of old friends filled the air in Islamabad on May 3 as China and Pakistan came together to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations - one delicious bite at a time.

The China-Pakistan Food Festival in the Pakistani capital brought together around 400 guests from the two countries. In his remarks, Shi Yuanqiang, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan, highlighted that the food festival acts as a vivid example of China-Pakistan people-to-people and cultural exchanges, fully showcasing the diverse charms of both countries' cultures.

The China-Pakistan Food Festival is held in Islamabad to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan.[Photo provided to CEN]

Attendees were treated to a video presentation highlighting the unique culinary traditions of the four Chinese provinces and municipalities - Tianjin, Sichuan, Jiangsu and Gansu. The videos offered vivid glimpses into China's diverse regional cuisines and local customs, reflecting the depth and breadth of the country's food culture.

A total of 32 food stalls were set up at the venue, offering a wide range of Chinese delicacies, including fried dough twists, baked pastries, cold noodles, zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings), hand-grabbed rice, spicy skewers (chuanchuan), as well as Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles.

In addition to food tasting, a vibrant cultural performance programme followed, featuring a solo guzheng (Chinese zither) performance, classical Chinese dance, guitar performances and poetry recitations.