BEIJING: In a special investiture ceremony held at the Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, Professors Tang Mengsheng and Kong Julan were conferred with Pakistan’s civil award, the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. The event, attended by senior officials, professors, students of Peking University, representatives from media organizations, and officers from the Pakistan Embassy, was conducted on behalf of the President of Pakistan, Ambassador Moin ul Haque.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Moin ul Haque paid tribute to Professors Tang Mengsheng and Kong Julan for their significant contributions in strengthening the friendly ties between China and Pakistan, particularly in the fields of culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges. He also highlighted their longstanding association with Pakistan, spanning over 50 years, and their efforts in promoting Urdu language and literature in China.
Expressing their gratitude to the government and people of Pakistan for the prestigious award, Professors Tang Mengsheng and Kong Julan pledged to continue their efforts and support to further deepen people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China.
Prof. Tang Mengsheng, the Director of the Pakistan Studies Centre at Peking University, has conducted extensive research on the history, politics, and culture of Pakistan. He has also served as a senior visiting scholar at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) and Punjab University. Prof. Tang has played a pivotal role in inspiring the younger generation in China to learn Urdu and undertake research on various aspects of Pakistani society and culture.
Prof. Kong Julan, a renowned academician in the field of Urdu literature in China, teaches at the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University. Her research work encompasses a wide range of topics, including folk stories of Urdu, ethnic diversity in modern Pakistan, and Sufism. Recently, her notable achievement has been the publication of the Urdu Chinese Dictionary, a testament to her enduring service to the Urdu language.
The conferment of the Sitara-i-Imtiaz award upon Professors Tang Mengsheng and Kong Julan not only recognizes their individual accomplishments but also highlights the significance of cultural and educational linkages between Pakistan and China. Their dedication and contributions serve as an inspiration for fostering closer ties between the two nations
