China thanks Pakistan’s civil-military distinguished support amid pandemic outbreak: Lijian Zhao

KARACHI: Amid a sharp surge in nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients, China has reassured Pakistan of full support in the fight against the coronavirus while praising the country’s top civil and military leaders for standing with the Chinese people in their hour of need.

“I wish Pakistan could defeat COVID-19 as soon as possible,” Lijian Zhao, the spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said in a tweet on Sunday.

Islamabad had extended full support to Beijing when it was battling the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, the central China city which had borne the brunt of the viral outbreak which has since been designated as a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Earlier this month, President Arif Alvi, along with senior ministers, visited China on the invitation of President Xi Jinping. The visit was aimed at conveying Pakistan’s strong support and solidarity towards the government and people of China in their battle against COVID-19.

“Pakistan PM Imran Khan and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa highly appreciated China as responsible and determined nation fighting #COVID19. Both asked Pakistanis to follow Chinese experience. Thanks to PM Khan and Gen Bajwa! I wish Pakistan could defeat #COVID19 ASAP,” Zhao wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Currently, there are 777 COVID-19 cases in Pakistan: 333 in Sindh; 222 in Punjab; 108 in Balochistan; 31 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; 71 in Gilgit-Baltistan; 11 in Islamabad; and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The novel coronavirus has spread to all continents excluding Antarctica. The COVID-19 respiratory illness caused by the deadly contagion has so far killed thousands of people and infected tens of thousands of others across the globe.

Though the deadly infestation has been contained by the Chinese government in Wuhan, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Europe as the new epicentre of the viral disease.

Beijing has already said it was “deeply moved” by Islamabad’s strong support and assistance amid coronavirus outbreak.

“Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the Pakistani government and people have offered strong support and assistance to China. We are deeply moved and would like to express our thanks again,” Zhao had said during a weekly media briefing last month.

He also appreciated supplies donated by Islamabad and said Pakistan’s National Assembly and Senate also passed resolutions expressing their full support for China.

President Xi Jinping has also expressed profound gratitude for Pakistan’s support to China at a critical time. “Facts have proved once again that China and Pakistan are true friends and good brothers that share weal and woe,” he was quoted as telling PM Imran during a telephonic conversation.