Yabuli, China, February 11, 2025: The close ties between China and Pakistan were underlined when the Pakistani delegation to the 2025 Asian Winter Games received a surprise gift of drawings by primary school students in Harbin.
Air Commodore Ashar Jamil, Chef de Mission of Pakistan, and athletes Mohammad Karim and Mohammad Shabbir were overcome with emotion when they were each gifted with a painting by an elementary student in Harbin.
“I’m overwhelmed by this gesture. Pakistan loves China and seeing these drawings underscores the close relationship between the two countries. The people of Harbin have shown their support to us and we are very grateful,” Jamil said.
AWG volunteer from Pakistan, Annie Qurat Ul Ain, who is a medical student for her PhD at Harbin Medical University, said the secret initiative had been undertaken to underscore the “good friendship” between China and Pakistan.
Three-time Olympian and alpine skier Mohammad Shabbir said: “We are very happy to be participating in our brotherly country and we are extremely thankful for these drawings.”
Minutes before the surprise presentation was made on Tuesday, February 11, Air Commodore Jamil, who is also the Secretary General of the Winter Sports Federation Pakistan, had told the Olympic Council of Asia that he intended to push the Pakistan Olympic Association to forge closer ties with China to develop winter sports.
“The facilities here are amazing. China has wonderful infrastructure for winter sports and I will be pressing our sports authorities to push for closer collaboration which hopefully will lead to our athletes coming here for training,” Jamil said.
“We want to learn from the best and, in Asia, China is among the leading nations in winter sports as evidenced by the results at these games. If Pakistan is to develop its winter sports, we must be able to train in venues like what they have in Harbin and Yabuli.
“There is a lot of passion for sports in China, not only from the elite athletes but even by the public. The drawings by the schoolchildren in Harbin are proof of this passion. I will treasure this painting always,” added Jamil.
