The construction of the proposed Pakistan-China Friendship Center kicked off on Wednesday.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, the Minister for Planning and Development, Makhdoom Shahabuddin said the project signified a special feature of cultural relations between Pakistan and China.

He pointed out that China had made commendable contributions to Pakistan's economic development and the Friendship center would provide a wide range of facilities to promote understanding in some fields of life especially in education and exchange of programs related to integrated development of the youth.

Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Luo Zhaohui pointed out that the ties between the two governments were established dozens of years ago while the cultural communication between people in both countries had a history of thousands of years.

Concrete efforts are needed to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries, Luo said, adding that the Pakistan-China Friendship Center would help enhance people to people communications.

With an investment of around US$35.29 million from the Chinese government, the Pakistan-China Friendship center will cover a land of 5.26 hectares. Cai Lizhi, project manager of Shanghai Construction Group, which will construct the building, said the whole construction work was likely to be finished within 22 months.

The proposed Friendship center will comprise an auditorium of 800 seats, an exhibition center, hotel rooms which can host around100 guests and some other facilities.

The Friendship Center, after completion, will be handed over to the Ministry of Culture of Pakistan for operation, maintenance and management, according to Makhdoom Shahabuddin.

(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2008)