ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A group of 40 Pakistani teachers left for language training in Beijing on Sunday under the 2017 International Chinese Language Teacher Training Program sponsored by the Chinese government.

A send-off for the teachers was held at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and was attended by Zhao Lijian, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy, Arshad Ali, executive director of Pakistan's Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and teachers.

The group will be the third batch of Pakistani teachers to visi China for language training since 2015. So far, at least 120 Pakistani teachers have been given training under the program.

The group of 40 teachers - 26 women and 14 men, from educational institutes across Pakistan - will receive training under the 15-day program, which has been organized and sponsored by the Chinese embassy in collaboration with Beijing Municipal Commission of Education and Beijing International Education Exchange Center.

Better understanding

During the send-off Zhao said: "Language is a bridge among different cultures, a bridge to bring our hearts closer to each other.

"If you can master the Chinese language, you will get a better understanding of the essence of the Chinese culture and the way of thinking, thus you can better communicate and work with Chinese friends."

Zhao congratulated the teachers for bearing greater responsibilities to teach young students about China and China-Pakistan friendship.

Addressing the ceremony, Ali expressed thanks to the Chinese government for starting such initiatives to strengthen bonds of friendship.

"I hope that the visiting Pakistani teachers will bring back not only training but also memories and experiences of China's rich culture to pass on to their students and other people in their country.

"The visit will be a source of inspiration for the continuation of China-Pakistan deep-rooted friendly relations from generation to generation," said Ali.

Masooma Nayyar, a headmistress of a school from Pakistan's southwest province of Balochistan, said that the visit to China is going to be a great boost in her career and life.

"I am very excited and believe that the training will help me understand Chinese culture and language better," said Nayyar.

Since the start of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Pakistani people, especially youngsters, have been more eager to learn the Chinese language than ever before.

Currently, four Confucius Institutes have been working in different areas of Pakistan to teach the Chinese language to students.

Xinhua