China is Pakistan’s trusted friend, staunchest partner and iron-brother: PM Shehbaz Sharif

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recognized China as Pakistan’s trusted friend, staunchest partner, and iron-brother, whose relief assistance was deeply appreciated by the people of the country, and in keeping with the time-honoured bilateral friendship.

He was talking to Nong Rong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, who called him here.

The Prime Minister conveyed deep gratitude of the government and the people of Pakistan for the messages of condolence and sympathy by President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on the devastating floods in Pakistan, and mobilizing immediate relief assistance for the flood-affected areas in the finest traditions of Pakistan-China ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’.

China has scaled up its official flood relief assistance to RMB 400 million, including 25,000 tents. Provincial and city governments, friendship associations, enterprises and Chinese people are joining the Chinese government’s efforts to provide the much-needed assistance.

Last week, China announced to add another RMB 300 million to its financial assistance to flood-ravaged Pakistan – taking the tally to RMB 400 million.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China has been closely following the post-flood situation in Pakistan. “Since the floods hit Pakistan, China has been closely following the situation. We responded immediately and made every effort to provide relief assistance,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told journalists.

China will send several batches of urgently-needed supplies to Pakistan successively. Early this week, the latest batch of China’s aid for Pakistani flood victims consisting of 3,000 tents reached Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi.

The Red Cross Society of China also provided USD 300,000 in emergency cash assistance to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, and launched a handover ceremony in Islamabad this week.

The Chinese enterprises in Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province donated USD 250,000 on September1 to the flood victims of the province.

More than 1,100 people lost their lives and more than 33.04 million people were affected by the floods, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority.