Daily Times

As Pakistan celebrated its 74th Independence Day, this 14th of August, Beijing not only felicitated Islamabad on the auspicious occasion but feted it for defeating the pandemic COVID – 19. The entire world has been badly struck with the novel coronavirus, which has claimed a huge toll of human lives and shattered economies. Despite its meagre resources and an already battered economy, Pakistan managed to overcome the scourge of the global epidemic because of China’s unstinted support.

COVID-19 was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December, but instead of hiding the deadly outbreak, Chinese authorities took bold steps to overcome the disease of unknown origins or cure. It locked down its cities, set up hospitals and treatment centers in record time. Provided food, medicines and protective gear to the besieged residents, especially students, free of cost. The result was obvious and the further spread of the deadly virus was controlled through prevention, isolation and precautions.

Acting in a responsible manner, China extended its services and offered to share its experiences with the rest of the world. COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health crisis with a horrific scale not seen in generations; the effort to overcome both it and its impact will be nothing short of a long-term and arduous global war. Academics have called upon two of the great countries on Earth, China and the U.S. to cooperate to bring a more positive outcome for all humankind. Unfortunately, the US expressed doubts regarding China’s transparency but undeterred, China persisted in sending its trained medical specialists as well as dispatched medical supplies to the rest of the world.

Cherishing life and protecting people from harm should be everyone’s shared goals in the fight against COVID-19, which in China is now basically under control. Since the virus first emerged in Wuhan, the Chinese people have made unimaginable efforts and sacrifices to achieve hard-won results. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its gratitude to China for the support of the international community, including donations from its citizens, during the most critical stage of the fight. The world respects the epidemic containment programs and policies implemented by other countries according to their own national conditions and the Chinese are willing to share their experiences with other countries and provide all available assistance to them.

While China joined its iron brother Pakistan in celebrating its Independence Day, Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry informed that much needed ventilators were provided to Pakistan by China to help it combat COVID-19.

Zhao Lijian, in his daily briefing to the media, stated that on occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, China takes this occasion to send its congratulations. He reiterated that China has every confidence that Pakistan will achieve greater progress in national development and the friendship between China and Pakistan will see more fruitful chapters.

The Chinese Spokesperson informed that a handover ceremony for 1,000 ventilators given by China to Pakistan was held at the Islamabad International Airport on August 13, the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day. Lieutenant General Muhammad Afzal, chairman of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), expressed thanks for the government and people of China. At the ceremony, Afzal said that the huge amount of assistance flowing in from China helped Pakistan to contain the epidemic. China also helped with the locust swarms in Pakistan. These have added a new dimension to bilateral friendship.

China has declared that it will continue to work with Pakistan to fight COVID-19 and expand cooperation on assistance with medical supplies, experience exchanges, traditional Chinese medicine and vaccine development

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Pakistan have been standing together and offering each other mutual assistance, a telling example of the two peoples’ profound, deep and honey-sweet traditional friendship. China attaches high importance to supporting Pakistan in combating the epidemic. Anti-virus cooperation between the two sides shows that solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to deal with global challenges. Statistics show that the Chinese government has provided Pakistan with seven batches of anti-epidemic supplies this year, including such items as masks, protective gowns, testing reagents, ventilators, protective goggles, surgical gloves and thermometer guns, altogether weighing more than 100 tonnes. China will continue to fight COVID-19 alongside Pakistan and expand cooperation in areas like material assistance, experience-sharing and R&D of traditional medicine and vaccine until we vanquish the virus.

China has declared that it will continue to work with Pakistan to fight COVID-19 and expand cooperation on assistance with medical supplies, experience exchanges, traditional Chinese medicine and vaccine development.

Hailing the mutual assistance between the two countries since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhao said the Chinese government attaches great importance to assisting Pakistan in its fight against the pandemic and bilateral cooperation in fighting the pandemic fully demonstrated solidarity and cooperation are potent weapons against global challenges.

Yao Jing, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan has informed that China provided $15 million worth of aid to Pakistan to support the country’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Pakistan too extended wholehearted support to China, when it was distraught and faced the onslaught of the global pandemic and Pakistan’s President Dr.ArifAlvi visited China with a medical team and met his counterpart offering the wholehearted support of Pakistan and its people for its Chinese brothers and sisters in distress. Pakistan is lucky to have an all-weather strategic ally in the shape of China.

The writer is a retired Group Captain of PAF. He is a columnist, analyst and TV talk show host, who has authored six books on current affairs, including three on China