ISLAMABAD, Oct. 7 (INP): The outgoing Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong assured that the China’s economic rise will  immensely benefit Pakistan in achieving its socio-economic agenda and improving the livelihood of the people. He was speaking at a farewell reception held in his honour by the Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman Parliamentary Committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) here Friday’s night. The reception was also attended by the ambassador’s wife Madam Diana Bao and some members of the Parliament including Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Senator Talha Mehmood and Senator Abdul Qayyum and Deputy Head of the Chinese embassy Zhao Lijian. Sun Weidong said China will fully stand by Pakistan in overcoming its socio-economic problems, particularly the energy shortage and industrial development. Expressing his deep-sentiments of love and affection for the people of Pakistan, Sun Weidong said he has devoted himself to secure a bright future for them. “I will be leaving Pakistan in a few days after serving the country about four years and four months, but his heart will remain here. He will be leaving behind a lot of friends who had been his equal partner in the efforts of further strengthening the Sino-Pak friendship” he remarked. He said he received too much love and warmness from the people of Pakistan and wanted to reciprocate in a same manner, by doing his utmost during his future diplomatic career. It will be his life-long mission to promote Pakistan everywhere. The element of sincerity is the hallmark of their relationship, he added. Stating that China has become 2nd largest economy of the World, with annual 6.9 annual growth rate, he said his country would like to share its economic glory with Pakistan, a time-tested and all-weather friend. He said he was confident that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would greatly contribute to Pakistan’s economy. The result of CPEC, mentioned by Ambassador Sun Weidong, was that prior to CPEC, Pakistan's growth rate was an annual 3.6%, but now with CPEC underway, it had gone up to 5.3% despite many challenges. Sixty thousand job opportunities have also been created by Chinese companies for Pakistanis. Ambassador Weidong referred to the 19 Early Harvest Projects, particularly those in the energy sector, which would contribute 1,820 MWs of electricity after November 2017. "Thanks to CPEC, surplus power will be produced. So, one  result of CPEC is already evident. Four years back, he said even Islamabad, the Capital of Pakistan was going through about ten-hour load-shedding every day but now it has come to almost nil. He said he would be leaving his ambassadorial position at a time when the CPEC that was a dream four years back has now become a reality. Ambassador Sun Weidong said that Pakistan-China people to people exchanges were already being broadened and more than two hundred thousand visitors from both countries visited each other in 2016. "There are 22,000 Pakistani students studying in China, including five thousand on official scholarships," he said. Earlier, Senator Mushahid Hussain while praising high the services and contribution of Ambassador Sun Weidong, said he had an eventful tenure that delivered a lot of benefits to the people of Pakistan. Calling his wife as Co-ambassador, Mushahid Hussain said they found her most active during the period in improving cultural relations and people-to-people contacts. Mushahid also referred to the contribution of the ambassador's father, who served in the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan from 1952-58, and said their family had served Pakistan-China friendship from 'generation to generation'. INP/J/AJ