Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong met with Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque here on Thursday.

 

According to the official Website of Chinese Foreign Ministry, Jinsong said that China and Pakistan have all along supported each other through thick and thin. In 2008, Pakistan, our “ironclad brother” shipped all the tents in its stock to the earthquake-stricken areas in Wenchuan, China, a move the Chinese people will never forget. China relates deeply to the serious difficulties Pakistan encounters due to recent floods, and will stand firmly with Pakistan and make all-out efforts to offer help and support. 

 

This is another embodiment of the ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan and the concrete practice of building a China-Pakistan community with a shared future. Liu Jinsong stressed that China attaches great importance to the disaster in Pakistan. The Chinese leaders have sent messages of condolence to their Pakistani counterparts. The Chinese government has decided to provide urgently needed supplies, including tents, for Pakistan in emergency aid. The Red Cross Society of China has made donations to the Pakistani Red Crescent Society. Sub-national governments, institutions and people in China have also expressed sympathy and support in various forms. 

 

The first batch of 3,000 tents provided by the Chinese government has been shipped to Pakistan by Chinese military aircraft. Follow-up assistance will be delivered to the disaster-hit areas at the fastest speed and in the most convenient way in light of Pakistan’s needs.  China is ready to maintain close communication and coordination with Pakistan to provide assistance in post-disaster reconstruction, food security and capacity building for disaster prevention and relief, among other aspects. I believe that with the joint efforts of the Pakistani government and people, the people in the disaster-hit areas of Pakistan will defeat the floods and rebuild their homes at an early date.

 

Haque expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their strong support and generous assistance during Pakistan’s most difficult time. Haque said that in the wake of the floods in Pakistan, the Pakistani Embassy in China received a torrent of support and sympathy from all walks of life in China. We were deeply moved by the warm words and passionate actions. By providing assistance after the Wenchuan earthquake, Pakistan did what it should do as a brother. 

 

China’s emergency assistance, which came in time, is of vital importance to Pakistan. Pakistan is ready to work closely with China to make good use of the aid materials. Haque also said, I had visited Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and witnessed social stability, ethnic unity, freedom of religious belief and respect and protection of ethnic-minority cultures in Xinjiang. Xinjiang affairs are purely China’s internal affairs, and Pakistan firmly supports China’s efforts to crack down on the “three evil forces”, namely terrorism, separatism and extremism, and safeguard national sovereignty. Pakistan will continue to do its utmost to support China on issues concerning its core interests.

 

Credit : Indepedent News Pakistan