Pakistan’s prosperity to remain dearest to him, says Sun Weidong

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong while saying good-bye on completion of his more than four-year diplomatic tenure in Islamabad said here on Monday that Pakistan’s prosperity and well-being will remain dearest to him throughout his life.

Sun Weidong said he is highly indebted to the government and the people of Pakistan for their all-out support to him and his other colleagues in the Chinese embassy, taking the Sino-Pak all-round strategic relationship to a new height, following the visit of President Xi Jinping in April 2015.

At a farewell reception, held at the Chinese Embassy, he narrated some touching moments of his stay in Pakistan that reflective of dedication and commitment of the Pakistani people to these relationships.

The reception was largely attended by high-dignitaries from civil, military and diplomatic circles as well as his friends who he said helped him a lot in strengthening their mutually beneficial cooperative partnership mainly through CPEC.

Prominent those who attended the reception included speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of staff GHQ Lt. Gen. Bilal Akbar, Chief of Jamat-i-Ismai Sirajul Haq, National Security adviser to PM Nasir Khan Janju, Economic Adviser senator Sartaj Aziz, Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind (PTI), senator Nuzhat Amir (PML-N), Senator Tala Mahmood (JUI) senator Sherry Rehman (PPP) Ghous Bakhsh Mehr (PML-Functional) and chairman NAB Chaudhy Qamar Zaman.

A video was also screened on the occasion, showing some glimpses of Sun Weidong’s eventual tenure in Pakistan, besides cutting a cake to mark the farewell.

The guests exchanged pleasantries on the occasion eulogizing the outstanding contribution of the ambassador in giving a new touch to their bilateral relations, particularly in the socio-economic sector.

The ambassador in his heart-rending remarks said that he and his wife Diana Bao will always remember the best time of their life, spent in Pakistan. He said he considered himself lucky one, as he witnessed the birth and growth of CPEC, a flag-ship project.

Recalling his contribution in development of Sino-Pak relationship, Sun Weidong said he was generously rewarded for it by the people of Pakistan through their love and deep-affection.

It was his fortune that he performed his ambassadorial duties in making the visit of President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015 most successful that opened a new chapter in their decades’ old bilateral relationship.

While citing the warm-hospitality, he received during his tenure, he said he would never forget dignified salute of Pakistan army and Pakistan’s police. He said he and his wife Diana cherished every-moment of their life in Pakistan. He said it will be his life-long mission to further deepen these time-test and all-weather relationship.

The ambassador who is returning home after few days, further said China will fully stand by Pakistan in overcoming its socio-economic problems, particularly the energy shortage and industrial development.

He said he was confident that the CPEC would greatly contribute to Pakistan’s economy and bring peace and prosperity to the whole region. Sun Weidong also mentioned the excellent economic growth, Pakistan achieved in recent years and said it is his good fortune that he tried to contribute to it, through CPEC’s early harvest projects, leading to overcoming the country’s energy shortage.

It was also his fortune that he saw Pakistan’s major success in curbing terrorism and extremism in the country. He hoped that the government and the people of Pakistan would give the same support to his successor to continue the process of development.