Five doctors and five teachers from Pakistan arrived in Karamay in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on March 13 to start their half-year-long exchange study.

The doctors will study and work in Karamay Central Hospital. The hospital's president, Ye Zhou, said they have drawn up study plans for the Pakistani doctors based on their specialized areas. The hospital will also provide the Pakistani guests with assistance in daily living to help them quickly adapt to the new living environment.

The teachers will receive training at Karamay High School in mandarin, English and Xinjiang culture. Six textbooks have been compiled for them, according to Zhao Guosheng, director of the International Division of the Karamay High School. During their stay, the Pakistani teachers will also visit other primary and secondary schools in Karamay.

The exchange program is a part of cooperation agreements signed between Karamay and Pakistan's port city of Gwadar in 2015. The agreements, meshing with the Belt and Road Initiative, involve the fields of economy and trade, education, culture, technology and healthcare.

Proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) is aimed at revitalizing the ancient Silk Road overland and maritime trade routes linking East and West.

Doctors and teachers from Pakistan are greeted at Karamay Airport on March 13. [Photo/epaper.kelamayi.com.cn]

Five Pakistani teachers attend the flag-raising ceremony at Karamay High School on March 14. [Photo/epaper.kelamayi.com.cn]

 

Edited by Owen Fishwick