BEIJING, July 6 : Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, inaugurated Zafran, a new Pakistani restaurant in Beijing, highlighting the growing popularity of Pakistani cuisine in the Chinese capital and its role in strengthening cultural ties between Pakistan and China.
Speaking to journalists at the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Hashmi described Pakistani cuisine as a powerful bridge connecting the people of the two countries. He said food remains one of the most direct and enduring forms of cultural exchange, adding that the increasing number of Pakistani restaurants in Beijing reflects the warmth of bilateral relations and a rising interest among Chinese diners in authentic South Asian flavours.
With nearly a dozen Pakistani restaurants now operating across Beijing, the city’s food scene offers a rich selection of traditional dishes, including biryani, karahi, freshly baked naan, chapli kebabs, tikka, lassi and milk tea. What was once a niche cuisine serving Pakistani students, traders and diplomatic staff has steadily gained popularity among local residents, driven by social media recommendations and expanding people-to-people exchanges.
The owner of Zafran, Mr. Saeed, welcomed Ambassador Hashmi and other distinguished guests, expressing his commitment to promoting authentic Pakistani cuisine and hospitality in China.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by members of Beijing’s Pakistani community, Chinese business representatives and figures from the food industry. Following the ribbon-cutting, guests were served a variety of traditional Pakistani dishes, including rice specialties, gram-based delicacies, tikka, naan, pizza with Pakistani flavours, lassi and milk tea, receiving appreciation for their rich taste and authentic flavours.
The opening of Zafran reflects the deepening engagement between Pakistan and China across trade, culture and tourism, with cuisine emerging as an increasingly popular avenue for fostering people-to-people connections and mutual understanding.
