‘Pakistan has stolen my heart’, says outgoing Chinese envoy
Lijian Zhao completes tenure in Pakistan, departs for China
Lijian Zhao completes his tenure as DCM in Pakistan. PHOTO: CPEC
China’s Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) in Pakistan Lijian Zhao on Friday said that he was leaving Pakistan "with a heavy heart".
Completing his service in Islamabad, the Chinese envoy took to Twitter and expressed gratitude for the treatment he received during his stay in Pakistan.
"When my successor arrives, my days are numbered. It's time to go. I really want to drive the plane away and stay back. With a more senior and competent replacement, I hope you may support her as you supported me. Thanks a million!", he posted in a tweet.
Pang Chunxue has been appointed as the Chinese embassy’s new deputy chief of mission, replacing the outgoing Zhao.
Chunxue is a senior diplomat, who has served in the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan and first came to Pakistan almost 20 years ago in a junior position in the late 1990s.
Zhao had served in Islamabad on more than one occasion, cumulatively spending more than eight years here.
A popular figure in the diplomatic circles in Islamabad, he became one of the first Chinese diplomats in the federal capital who effectively leveraged social media to explain the Chinese aspect and to clarify confusion and rumours surrounding Pakistan-China ties and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Zhao was originally born in the Hebei province, China in 1972. He obtained a master’s degree in political affairs and joined the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996. As a junior diplomat, he has served in Washington.
Between 2013 and 2015, he served as the director of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh Office in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Completing his service in Islamabad, the Chinese envoy took to Twitter and expressed gratitude for the treatment he received during his stay in Pakistan.
"When my successor arrives, my days are numbered. It's time to go. I really want to drive the plane away and stay back. With a more senior and competent replacement, I hope you may support her as you supported me. Thanks a million!", he posted in a tweet.
Pang Chunxue has been appointed as the Chinese embassy’s new deputy chief of mission, replacing the outgoing Zhao.
Chunxue is a senior diplomat, who has served in the United Kingdom, and Afghanistan and first came to Pakistan almost 20 years ago in a junior position in the late 1990s.
Zhao had served in Islamabad on more than one occasion, cumulatively spending more than eight years here.
A popular figure in the diplomatic circles in Islamabad, he became one of the first Chinese diplomats in the federal capital who effectively leveraged social media to explain the Chinese aspect and to clarify confusion and rumours surrounding Pakistan-China ties and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Zhao was originally born in the Hebei province, China in 1972. He obtained a master’s degree in political affairs and joined the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1996. As a junior diplomat, he has served in Washington.
Between 2013 and 2015, he served as the director of the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh Office in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.