The 3rd Asian-African Cultural Festival, held on April 9 at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) in Guangzhou, transformed the campus into a vibrant celebration of traditions from across two continents, with Pakistani culture drawing warm reception from students and faculty.
The festival brought together faculty and students from nine language departments – Korean, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Bengali, Turkish, Hebrew, and Swahili – to create an immersive cultural experience. Performances like the Asian-African Cultural Show highlighted the rich diversity of Asian and African traditions.
The Pakistan booth, organized by the university’s Urdu Department, became one of the most popular attractions at the festival. The booth showcased traditional Pakistani cuisine including chicken biryani and lassi yogurt-based drinks alongside handicrafts and traditional costumes.
Consul General of Pakistan in Guangzhou Sardar Muhammad visited the Pakistan booth and interacted with Chinese students learning Urdu at the 3rd Asian-African Cultural Festival, photo by Consulate General of Pakistan in Guangzhou
Consul General of Pakistan in Guangzhou Sardar Muhammad visited the Pakistan booth and interacted with Chinese students learning Urdu, many of whom were dressed in traditional Pakistani attire. He encouraged them to be a source of strength in strengthening brotherly ties between Pakistan and China.
GDUFS has long established itself as a key institution for Pakistan-China cultural and educational cooperation. The university is home to South China’s only Urdu language undergraduate program, which operates under an “Urdu + English” dual-language training model. In 2023, a Pakistani “Generation Z” youth delegation visited the Urdu department at GDUFS, where they engaged in discussions on media, sports, cuisine, and traditional attire. Such exchanges have strengthened the enduring people-to-people bonds between the two nations.
The Asian-African Cultural Festival has become an annual tradition at GDUFS, building on the success of previous editions. Beyond the Pakistani offerings, the festival featured Turkish coffee fortune-telling, East African drum performances and Persian Hafez divination. A Chinese booth with seasonal spring displays added a local touch to the global celebration. Students dressed in traditional costumes from various countries served as interactive guides, creating an atmosphere where cultural exchanges unfolded naturally and joyously.
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