Aseefa urges China to forge health partnership

ISLAMABAD:

First Lady Aseefa Bhutto Zardari has lauded the compassion and dedication of Chinese doctors in saving the lives of Pakistani children suffering from congenital heart disease.

She expressed her views in her keynote address at the Mid-Autumn Celebration titled "A Shared Beaming Moon, All United Hearts and Hands," held at the Chinese Embassy here on Tuesday.

Speaking as the chief guest, the First Lady said the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes "harmony and unity"—values that beautifully reflect the deep friendship between Pakistan and China.

At the event hosted by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, the First Lady expressed gratitude to Prof Dr Pan Xiangbin and the Fuwai Hospital team for their humanitarian service.

She proposed the establishment of a Bilateral Pediatric Cardiology Partnership to enable joint surgical missions and structured medical training between the two nations; a Telemedicine and Knowledge-Sharing Network linking premier institutions, NICVD and AFIC, with China's Fuwai Hospital for real-time consultation and joint research; an annual fellowship program to train a new generation of Pakistani specialists in pediatric cardiology and surgery in China; and a Joint Pakistan-China Centre of Excellence for Pediatric Cardiac Care.

In his address, the Chinese ambassador emphasized that China and Pakistan are not only iron brothers but also iron sisters. He said over 70,000 health packages had been distributed to women in Balochistan under joint initiatives.