ISLAMABAD: China has ignited peace, development, and shared prosperity through sports diplomacy during the Winter Olympics 2022. As world leaders and sports teams came together to support China’s Winter Olympic Games, peace and friendship have been strengthened, and all the false politicization has been neutralized. There is a greater chance for countries to collaborate and build a shared future. Pakistan and China’s strong partnership is essential for regional peace and security. These were the remarks by the speakers sharing their views during the Webinar on “Beijing Winter Olympics: Sports Diplomacy for Shared Future” organized by Friends of BRI Forum. While moderating the session, Farhat Asif, Co-Founder of Friends of BRI Forum, highlighted the primary aim of the Friends of BRI forum initiative. She has shared that the forum has organized several conversations on the subject, including business, media, academic institutions linkages amongst 138 countries and international organizations of the world. She further said that the Webinar had been organized to engage in intellectual discourse on China’s vision of sports diplomacy in the context of the Olympic games. Speaking on occasion, Ambassador Nagmana Hashmi, Former Ambassador of Pakistan to EU and China, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit had been instrumental in rejuvenating Pakistan-China relations. She added that games are a medium of cooperation and necessary to reduce tensions amongst groups.
Furthermore, Ambassador Hashmi also stressed the mutually beneficial relationship between China and Pakistan. She underscored that the foundation of friendship between Pakistan and China is based on mutual respect and cooperation, with both parties benefiting from each other. She urged for even greater collaboration between the two states in diverse sectors to improve and strengthen collaboration. Dr. Wang Li, Research Fellow, Center for Global Security & Governance, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, said China’s commitment to hosting the Olympics in the face of such extenuating circumstances showcased its economic development, the financial capacity to organize any mega international event, and strength to its global diplomacy. He touched on China’s increasing technological and innovative developments as a global superpower.
Dr. Wang also expressed his view that the unity between Pakistan and China cemented peace and security in the South Asian region. Dr. Sajid Khursheed, HOD, Canadian International School, Beijing, China, has shared an eyewitness account of the Beijing Winter Olympics, specifically his participation in the grandiose opening ceremony. He said that the organizers had strictly followed all the World Health Organisation-related protocols. Dr. Khursheed also remarked that thousands of volunteers work around the clock, making monumental efforts to bring the games to life. Huang Yan, Global Communication Manager in Zhejiang, China, explained the exciting highlights of the Beijing Winter Olympics. She explained the role of media, especially digital media, that has made a far-reaching impact on certain instances on people across the globe. Individuals took to social media sites such as TikTok and Twitter to share their sentiments, earning warm acknowledgments and recognition worldwide. She believes that the media has made substantial contributions towards building lasting relationships and removing all prejudices about countries. Many media persons, journalists, students, and academicians from different parts of the world attended the Webinar. –PR
