Zhang Chunxiang; a factor behind ties on the rise
By Uzma Zafar

Diplomacy is an art, more than a profession. The purpose and the real spirit of the diplomacy is to win hearts. This objective can be obtained by learning diplomacy as an art and not as some bure4aucratic duty or professional obligation. There are very few names in the history where diplomats gained utmost popularity by learning the art of diplomacy. And in the current era, one such name is Mr. Zhang Chunxiang, Ambassador of People's Republic of China to Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Ambassador Zhang has spent nearly one quarter of century in Pakistan in different positions at Chinese Embassy in Islamabad; a fact that proves how close he must be to the Pakistanis from all walks of life. During his mammoth stay, he learnt a very fluent Urdu to set aside the language barriers that could have hampered his efforts to be even closer with his friends in Pakistan and today he speak amazing Urdu, much better than many native Pakistanis in a way. In the words of Aftab Iqbal Shamim, Ambassador Zhang's Urdu teacher, Ambassador Zhang learnt Urdu in a surprisingly short time and this was because he learnt Urdu by heart and not only by mind. Ambassador Zhang used his skills in Urdu as an effective tool to expand his circle of friends and thus played a very vital role in enhancing the traditional Pak-China friendship through his diplomatic as well as personal endeavors. Ambassador Zhang's popularity in Pakistan can be gauged from the fact that he is personal friend from an embassy car driver to the President of Pakistan. His tally of friends includes, the students, writers, intellectuals, businessmen, agriculturists, doctors, engineers, civil and military bureaucrats, politicians and journalists. He is by name known to even local shopkeepers. 55-year-old Pak-china friendship had to go through a couple of jolts during the past few years when in certain highly tragic incidents a few Chinese engineers were killed in terror attacks in Pakistan. However, apart from the sincere efforts of both the Pakistan and Chinese government, it was tremendous efforts of Ambassador Zhang those who conspired to give a blow to Pak-China friendship through such acts, could never succeed.
Ambassador Zhang is known as great pusher as far as Pakistan-China friendship is concerned. The number of delegations from, amongst the writers, businessmen, journalists and politicians that he sent from Pakistan to China is a clear proof of his sincere efforts to take Pak-China friendship to entirely new horizons. The number of bilateral agreements that Pakistan and China have signed during the past few years can also, be attributed to marvelous diplomatic efforts of Ambassador Zhang. It was just in recognition of his services to the cause of promotion of Pak-China friendship that President of Pakistan awarded ambassador Zhang with Pakistan's highest civil award.
Apart from these efforts, Ambassador Zhang has also been seen very active in bringing the Pakistani and Chinese nations even closer. He has been organizing a number of cultural events to bring the Pakistanis and Chinese peoples further close.
During the last year's deadly earthquake, Ambassador Zhang played a pivotal role in arranging unprecedented relief goods from China. It is worth mentioning here that the relief goods and donations in cash and kind, from China, made China the third most generous donor during the Pakistan earthquake and beyond doubts, Ambassador Zhang's hectic efforts in generating all the relief goods and cash donations from China.
Apart from all this, Ambassador Zhang keeps making donations to different official and private organizations of public service on behalf of his government and his country. Just recently the ambassador donated some three computers to Capital Traffic Police that helped the traffic cops in establishing a database of the vehicles in the capital to minimize traffic offences and accidents on the roads of Islamabad.
On the other side, people of Pakistan and particularly those from Islamabad have also gave an unprecedented love and respect to Ambassador Zhang. If one goes to his residence, while entering the sitting room, one will have to see a variety of shields, medals, mementos and souvenirs, given to him by different Pakistan organizations and friends. One can bet that no other diplomat in Islamabad was ever lucky enough to have that bigger tally of these tokens of love and appreciation.
Now when ambassador Zhang is about to complete his inning in Pakistan, one has to confess that Zhang Chunxiang has been in fact very important factor behind the Pakistan, China ties that are constantly on the rise.

—Zhang Chunxiang wo men ai ne!!