China to support Pakistan in overcoming covid-19 pandemic, energy crises: Ambassador Nong

Pakistan is China’s time-tested and strategic partner as both the countries’ relations are based on mutual trust, shared interests and a historical bond of friendship and Chain would continue to support its time-tested friend in overcoming COVID-19 as well as energy crises.

These views were expressed by Ambassador of China Nong Rong while speaking at a meeting of the senior members and representatives of various newspapers and media organizations.

The meeting was organized by the Chinese Consul General in Karachi Mr Li Bijian at a local hotel.

Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik was among the distinguished members of the media organizations who were invited to attend the meeting.

On the occasion, he candidly exchanged views with the Chinese envoy and his team on a vast range of subjects.

The government of the People’s Republic of China values timely completion of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a flagship project and aims at the unprecedented progress of Pakistan’s infrastructure and economy.

China is also Pakistan’s primary source of vaccine and the Pakistan government has already received millions of doses and equipment from China in order to check and prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Ambassador of China Nong Rong addressing senior journalists and media persons during a meeting organized by the Consul General of China in Karachi Li Bijian.

While welcoming the delegates, Ambassador Nong Rong said since he joined the Chinese mission in Islamabad he had held a number of meetings with Pakistan’s key political (both the ruling and the opposition) figures, industrial, financial and military leadership and in all those meetings he observed Pakistani leadership’s keenness to take the bilateral relations to the next level.

There was a consensus on the both sides on expediting the CPEC projects and their timely completion, he said.

Ambassador Nong Rong particularly mentioned the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR), Gwadar Port and different power projects under the CPEC and reiterated his government’s support and technical assistance for them.

He said in the year 2021 both the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations that began on May 21, 1951.

He expressed the hope that both the nations would continue to strengthen and develop their ties further, especially economic, cultural and bilateral relations.

Nong Rong said progress on CPEC was going well despite the negative propaganda by certain quarters.

Nong Rong highly appreciated the role of media that was playing an upfront role in condemning the negative voices and propaganda against the CPEC.

People of Pakistan, he said while replying to a question are very kind, generous and hospitable and he felt as if he were living in a second home while being in Pakistan.

About CPEC projects, he said various projects had already been completed while work on the rest was underway.

To a question related to trade deficit, he said the embassy of China was encouraging the Pakistani business community and traders to export their products to China to reduce the trade deficit between the two.

Editor-in-Chief of Pakistan Observer Faisal Zahid Malik on the occasion while expressing his gratitude to the Chinese Ambassador and the Consul General assured them of Pakistan Observer’s full support and shared with them his late father Zahid Malik’s firm belief in a strong and lasting relation between the two countries.

Pakistan Observer he said is the custodian of the Pak-China friendship and would continue to defend and encourage cooperation between the two countries, especially the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a game changer in the region and a solution to Pakistan’s economic, industrial and energy woes.

Pakistan Observer in order to give a true and clear picture of the pace of the Pak-China relations has signed three MoUs with Shanghai Daily, China Daily and Global Times, he said.

Earlier, at the start of the meeting, Consul General Li Bijian welcomed the delegates and gave a brief introduction of the ambassador and the bilateral relations between China and Pakistan.