BEIJING, March 27 -- Chinese journalist Zhao Qiao received an award of “Tamgha-i-Pakistan”in recognition of her meritorious services in the field of journalism.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid conferred the award on behalf of the President of Pakistan at a Pakistani national day reception and investiture ceremony hosted by the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing on March 24.

Zhao Qiao is a renowned Chinese journalist from China Radio International (CRI). She has been associated with CRI’s Urdu service during the last 20 years. And she also worked at the CRI’s Islamabad bureau.

She had done her major in Urdu language, history and culture of Pakistan from the Peking University.

The Reception began with the playing of national anthems of both countries, followed by the investiture ceremony.

The chief guest, Vice-Chairman of the National Peoples’ Congress of China, Shen Yueyue, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liu Zhenmin graced the occasion. Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Defense Production, who is on an official visit to China also attended the reception.

During the cake-cutting ceremony, Ambassador Masood Khalid together with Shen Yueyue, Liu Zhenmin, and Rana Tanveer Hussain sliced the cake to rejoice the anniversary of the Pakistan Day — the day when Pakistan Resolution was passed on March 23, 1940, at Lahore.

And the award-winning Chinese ensemble, Beijing Landscape Traditional Orchestra, mesmerized the audiences as it played popular Pakistani and Chinese tunes.

Also school children from the Pakistan Embassy College in Beijing presented national and folk songs of Pakistan.