China will help Pakistan come out of poverty: Lin Songtian

Islamabad: President Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) Lin Songtian has said that China will help Pakistan come out of the poverty and join the league of the prosperous nations.

Speaking at a news conference here at the Chinese embassy, Lin Songtian stressed that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was a major platform for building a global community of shared futures and was an initiative for the common development of humanity.

He mentioned that Pakistan’s energy crises were reduced in the first phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and communication infrastructure had improved.

“Both countries are working together to translate this traditional friendship into a more visible and tangible benefit to our People,” he contended.

Lin Songtian underlined that China would help Pakistan through infrastructure development, industrialization, and capacity building of youth.

The President of CPAFFC highlighted the China- Pakistan exemplary friendship and said that it was the commitment of China to pull out Pakistan from poverty by enhancing trade and modernizing its infrastructure and technological development.

He added that technical skills were fundamental to achieving these goals besides education. In this regard, “China is working with Pakistan to improve youth skills through vocational training institutes and the collaboration of both countries,” he added.

Lin Songtian pledged that the CPAFFC would enhance people-to-people exchanges to understand each other and strengthen the bonds between the two nations.

“The media’s role is vital to create awareness and urged the media should play its role to show the development and progress of both countries,” he emphasized.

About the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he underscored that on the successful conclusion of the Congress, the first head of Government to come to China was from Pakistan. He was referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit.

To a question, he remarked: “When I came here, I was very well welcomed. The Chinese people are very touched by Pakistani brothers and sisters. Although we have a lot of international and domestic changes, our countries, governments, and people always stand together.”

Lin Songtian further said “we will never forget Pakistan’s help to China after the devastating earthquake in winter in 2008.”