Bilateral trade between Pakistan, China will not be stopped: FM Qureshi

China has shared its experience in combating the deadly coronavirus with Pakistan, says FM Qureshi

Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the notion that bilateral trade between Pakistan and China will be stopped amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

During an interview to Global Times in Beijing, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the two nations have maintained transport and trade links despite the virus outbreak.

While speaking about the impact of the pandemic on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), FM Qureshi expressed hope saying that despite a temporary hindrance, the future of CPEC is very bright not only for both the countries but for the entire region as well.

China has shared its experience in combating the deadly coronavirus with Pakistan and has sent teams to assess the situation. Beijing has also provided testing kits in thousands, the top diplomat remarked.

The foreign minister along with President Dr Arif Alvi, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar and senior officials reached Beijing on Monday on a two-day visit to convey support and solidarity of Pakistan to the government and the people of China in the efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.

During the visit, both the sides also signed a number of memorandums of understanding and handing-over certificates of donated vaccine refrigeration equipment, emergency humanitarian materials for epidemic response and emergency materials of epidemic control.

The joint statement said that China had made major progress in control of coronavirus and would win this “people’s war” against it, adding that both sides underlined that COVID-19 “was a common challenge for the humanity and all countries should unite to overcome this challenge together”.