Pakistan stands firmly with China in difficult time: Qureshi

Pakistan has affirmed unflinching support to China in the battle against deadly coronavirus outbreak and it will soon send a military aircraft carrying assistance supplies to the affected neighbour.

In a telephone call to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed Pakistan's strong support for China's efforts to contain the virus and readiness to do its best to help the close ally overcome this challenge.

He also conveyed Prime Minister Imran Khan's best wishes to Premier Li Keqiang, said a press release issued by China’s foreign ministry on Saturday.

In the call, made on Friday, Qureshi said the people of Pakistan stand by the brotherly Chinese people during this difficult time.

The Chinese foreign ministry quoted Qureshi as saying that although the global community has lauded China's timely and effective response, some elements are trying to create panic, which Pakistan strongly opposes.

The government of Pakistan trusts that China is fully capable of ensuring the safety and health of foreign nationals in China and appreciates China taking care of Pakistani nationals in China like its own.

Pakistan firmly believes that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people will win the battle against the outbreak.

Chinese FM

State Councilor Wang Yi passed on Premier Li Keqiang's greetings to Prime Minister Khan. He said that under the direct leadership of President Xi, China has put in place a nationwide mechanism and taken decisive measures to contain and mitigate the outbreak.

With all measures falling into place, China has the capacity, confidence and determination to win the final victory, Wand Yi said.

He said China and Pakistan are close neighbours with a fine tradition of mutual support and assistance. At a time when the Chinese people are facing difficulties, Pakistan is doing its utmost to help, which once again speaks volumes about the deep friendship between the two countries.

The Pakistani government does not intend to hastily evacuate the nearly one thousand Pakistani nationals in Wuhan. This is a vote of confidence for the Chinese government, Wang said.

China will continue to ensure the safety and health of Pakistani brothers and sisters and provide them with all necessary assistance, he assured.

The minister pointed out that yesterday the WHO commended China's timely and effective measures to control the outbreak, and that the WHO made it clear about its opposition to travel or trade restrictions against China.

“Yet as you [FM Qureshi] rightly said, some people are bent on creating panic. Just hours after the WHO put forward its professional advice, a certain country announced a blanket travel ban against China,” he regretted.

“Such an act to take advantage of other people's difficulties is the last thing we need in state-to-state relations. China trusts that Pakistan and the rest of the international community will fully respect the important opinions of the WHO and continue to support China in containing the outbreak.”