Five teachers from Pakistan's Gwadar started their exchange study in Karamay on March 14. They will stay for six months to receive training in mandarin and teaching skills.

The Pakistani teachers will study at the International Division of Karamay High School. Four Karamay teachers started to prepare for the training in August and six textbooks have been compiled for the Pakistani guests, according to Zhao Guosheng, director of the school's International Division.

The teachers from Gwadar will also attend courses such as paper-cutting, tea art, traditional Chinese calligraphy, Taichi, and martial art to better understand Chinese culture and history. In addition, they will explore Karamay city by visiting historical and scenic areas, such as Blackoil Mountain, Karamay Museum and the Ghost City Yardang Landform Scenic Area.

Canadian teachers at Karamay High School will also be invited to join some training courses. This will be an opportunity for teachers from three countries to discuss teaching philosophies against different cultural backgrounds.

Five doctors from Gwadar also started their training in the Karamay Central Hospital.

The exchange program stems from 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.

Edited by Peter Nordlinger