"China has made an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic."

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“China’s adjustment of the new coronavirus infection to ‘Category B B control’ is a scientific decision made in response to the situation.” Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moeen Haque said in a recent interview with this reporter that as a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions, China’s optimal adjustment of epidemic prevention and control initiatives and entry and exit policies will further stabilize the global industry chain supply chain and inject strong momentum into the world economic recovery.

According to Haque, China always adheres to the people first and life first, and does its best to protect people’s life safety and health, and its epidemic prevention and control policies are scientific and effective.

Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China and Pakistan have worked together to fight the epidemic, setting an example for global cooperation in fighting the epidemic. Haque said that after the outbreak of the epidemic in Pakistan, the Chinese government assisted Pakistan with testing reagents, masks, protective clothing and other supplies at the first time, and more than 60 rescue flights carrying emergency medical supplies arrived in Pakistan. “Pakistan is the first recipient country of foreign vaccine aid from the Chinese government. China has also actively helped Pakistan to realize local production of vaccines, which has helped Pakistan to significantly increase the domestic vaccination rate and save the lives of Pakistani people.” Haque said.

Haque greatly appreciated that China actively helped other countries to cope with the challenges of epidemic. Up to now, China has provided hundreds of billions of anti-epidemic materials to 153 countries and 15 international organizations, and over 2.2 billion doses of New Crown vaccine to more than 120 countries and international organizations. China was the first to commit to New Crown vaccine as a global public good and the first to cooperate with developing countries on vaccine production. Huck said, “China has made an important contribution to the global fight against the epidemic.”

Speaking about the relationship between the two countries, Haque said that in China, the term “Ba-Tie” is often used to describe the closeness between the two countries and their people. “I am touched by this special expression. Pakistan and China are all-weather strategic partners and China has always been the best friend of Pakistan.”

In November 2022, China and Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding on e-commerce cooperation, which will strengthen cooperation in logistics, e-payment and other areas. According to Haque, China is at the forefront of the world in terms of online retail market, number of online shoppers, digital express business and mobile payment scale, and a large number of excellent e-commerce platforms have emerged, and Pakistan is also promoting the construction of e-commerce platforms, “deepening cooperation with China in related fields will further promote the development of bilateral trade.”

In addition to economic and trade cooperation, in recent years, China and Pakistan cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation have also been further strengthened. This year, the two countries will jointly organize the “China-Pakistan Tourism Exchange Year” to promote the deepening of people-to-people ties between the two countries. “Last August, we held a Pakistani culture and food festival in Langfang, Hebei Province with the Silk Road International Art Exchange Center to showcase the charm of Pakistani culture. This year, we will hold an exhibition of Gandhara art at the Palace Museum in Beijing, welcoming the Chinese people to visit and more Chinese tourists to travel to Pakistan.” Haque said.

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an important early and pilot project of the “Belt and Road”. The construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is progressing, and projects such as the new Gwadar International Airport are under construction in an orderly manner, providing an important boost to the development of Pakistan’s transportation and energy sectors and bringing tangible benefits to the Pakistani people, said Haque. “Pakistan-China friendship is indestructible and Pakistan will always stand firmly with China. Pakistan is willing to continue to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in various fields, promote relations between the two countries to a new level, and jointly promote regional peace and prosperous development.”