ISLAMABAD (DAWN): Four students of the Confucius Institute on Thursday held a mock Beijing Olympic torch relay at the IT auditorium of the National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

Fuwa-the good luck dolls-official mascots of Beijing Olympics 2008 Games, were also displayed at the event, and were the main interest for students.

Fuwa were carrying a message of friendship and peace and good wishes from China to children all over the world.

Each doll was named in a traditional way of expressing affection for children-Beibei symbolizes fish, Jingjing (Panda), Huanhuan (Olympic Flame), Yingying (Tibetan Antelope), and Nini (Swallow).

An interesting quiz competition on "Olympic Knowledge" was also held at the university in connection with the Olympic torch relay.

Three teams comprising three students each participated in the quiz competition. As a result of the competition, united team secured first position (190 points) while Pakistan team (180 points) and Chinese team (170 points) were adjusted 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Beijing Olympic Torch with its theme "Journey of Harmony" would cover 5.5 km distance in Islamabad as the capital city will come under international spotlight when the Olympic Torch relay will pass through it on April 16th.

The torch would arrive in Islamabad from Muscat, and would leave for New Delhi, India, on the same night.

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) President Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hasan (retired), Rector NUML Prof. Aziz Ahmed Khan and the Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui attended the Olympic Torch relay function.

Chinese language department students also presented a song dedicated to the Beijing Olympics "we are ready" in Chinese and English language.

The Olympics are scheduled to be held this year from August 8th in China.

President POA Lt. Gen. Syed Arif Hasan (retired) said that it was a great honor for the people of Pakistan that Islamabad had been selected as one of the destinations for the Olympic torch.

He expressed the commitment that they would do utmost for making the forthcoming Olympic Games a resounding success. Rector and President of the Confucius Institute, Prof. Aziz Ahmed Khan said that "China and Pakistan relations were, in fact, nurtured by the nature".

He said that Pak-China friendship was even going beyond the heights of the mountains and depths of the seas. Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese Envoy said that they enjoy and appreciate the cooperation Pakistan was extending with regard to the holding of the Olympic Games being held in Beijing this year.

He said that Pakistan was the only country in the world which has very close cordial and fraternal ties with China.

Mr. Luo Zhaohui also expressed the hope that the existing ties would grow more and more in the years to come.