ISLAMABAD: The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan donated a number of civil goods to the Pakistan Army stationed in the northwest Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to improve their living and working conditions. In a ceremony of handover held at the embassy, Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing spoke highly of the Pakistan Army’s contribution to the maintenance of the country’s security and appreciated the Army’s role in facilitating the development of China-Pakistan friendship and protecting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The bilateral military relations are an important content of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and the Chinese side will further boost the friendly cooperation with the Pakistani army and the government, support the country’s efforts in maintain its security and keep providing necessary supports to Pakistan, he added. According to the embassy, the civil goods included generators, electrical fans and tents. Pakistan Army General Headquarters Engineers Director General Muhammad Ajmal Iqbal, thanked the support and aid from the Chinese Embassy, saying that bilateral relations are tested by many challenges and the ties between the two countries will be further enhanced. Earlier, in a unique example of south-south collaboration, the People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan signed a $4 million agreement to provide assistance over four months in areas of FATA and Balochistan that have been affected by natural and human-made crises. The China South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund for the Recovery Project in FATA and Balochistan will help 8,100 families returning to the areas affected by insecurity in FATA to rebuild their lives. In Balochistan, about 19,000 school children will benefit as schools that were damaged in the 2010–2011 floods are refurbished. Published in Daily Times, April 7th 2018.