Pakistan, China reiterate resolve to continue consultations against COVID19

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan a-nd China have reiterated t-heir resolve to continue co-ordinated consultations to overcome challenge posed by Coronavirus pandemic.

An understanding to this effect came during a telephonic conversation between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation, and prevailing Coronavirus situation at regional and international level.

Speaking on the occasion, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan Pakistan has appealed to international stakeholders for urgent debt relief for developing countries.

The Foreign Minister also underlined the need to enhance the scope of facilitation about debt relief for poor economies so they can deal more effectively with the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Foreign Minister underlined that the Covid-19 has a devastating impact on global economy and its aftermath are far more severe than the Great Depression.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored that Pakistan and China are All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners and have preserved the fine tradition of solidarity, mutual assistance and mutual support.

He thanked the Government and people of China for extending solidarity and moral and material support to Pakistan in the wake of outbreak of Covid-19.

Qureshi underscored that generous donations and assistance sent by China, for Pakistan, to contain coronavirus were greatly appreciated by Pakistan and its people.

Foreign Minister expressed delight that lockdown from Wuhan has been lifted and normalcy has resumed in Wuhan and Hubei province.

Qureshi also thanked China for sending a team of medical experts to Pakistan to help fight the pandemic.

The Chinese medical te-am, he added, had strengthened Pakistan’s capacity to control Covid-19 through sharing their experience and expertise with our medical community.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi thanked Shah Mahmood Qureshi for reaching out to China and appreciated Pakistan’s thoughtful and timely gesture.

He assured that China will support Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative at the G-20 as well as other relevant fora.

Wang Yi underlined that Covid-19 had posed great danger to global economic and stability and coordinated and equitable efforts were needed to deal with its aftermath.

The Chinese Foreign Minister maintained that during President Dr. Arif Alvi’s recent visit to China, Pakistani and Chinese leaders had reached a consensus to jointly fight Covid-19.  He said Beijing is thankful to Islamabad for the support it extended to China in battling Covid-19 and now Chinese people and government are extending support to Pakistan to help it contain the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Iranian and Chinese foreign ministers in a phone conversation late on Wednesday discussed bilateral relations, the two countries’ strategic partnership, joint fight against coronavirus, and the US antagonistic policies, including unilateral and inhuman sanctions against the Iranian nation.

During the phone talk, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi also shared views on political developments in Afghanistan and restoring peace and stability to that country.