Ambassador Yao played vital role in strengthening Pak-China Relations: PM Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would play a key role in promoting regional economic growth and prosperity.

The premier expressed these views while speaking to Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, who paid farewell call on the premier. During the visit, PM Imran lauded the efforts of Ambassador Yao in further deepening and strengthening Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership.

The prime minister conveyed that the people of Pakistan were keenly looking forward to welcoming President Xi Jinping to Pakistan.

Appreciating priorities of Chinese leadership for its people, he emphasised that the Chinese leadership had played a remarkable role in China’s socio-economic transformation and there was a lot to learn from Beijing’s example of economic development and poverty alleviation.

PM Imran underlined that during the envoy’s tenure, CPEC had entered the second phase focusing on industrialisation, agriculture and socio-economic development.

Ambassador Yao thanked the premier for the leadership role he had played in further solidifying and deepening Pakistan’s relationship with China which was greatly valued by the Chinese leaders at the highest level. Ambassador Yao underlined that PM Imran’s vision and leadership was instrumental in Pakistan’s transformation.

He emphasised that with the prime minister’s personal focus on poverty alleviation and people-centered approach, CPEC had entered into its second phase and will deliver substantial and immense benefits not only to people of Pakistan but the entire region.

Ambassador Yao stated that Pakistan’s policy of “smart lockdown” in containing Covid-19 was internationally recognised and could be followed as a model by others to deal with a possible second wave of Covid-19.

Ambassador Yao maintained that he will have very fond memories of Pakistan and would wish to see Pakistan-China relationship further strengthened. He emphasised that China would continue to support Pakistan in pursuit of its national development and objectives.

The prime minister appreciated the envoy’s overall contribution to the Pakistan-China partnership and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Ambassador Yao Jing served in Islamabad from October 2017 to September 2020. This was his third assignment in Pakistan.