No amount of propaganda can impact iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China, says FO at Year-End Review briefing
Gwadar Pro
Islamabad: Pakistan has said that no amount of propaganda can impact the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China.
Speaking at a Year-End Review briefing to the journalists here, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch maintained that China is Pakistan’s close friend and ties with Beijing were a permanent feature of the foreign policy
“Pakistan and China are close friends and partners and we will make sure that no amount of propaganda impacts the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China,” she contended.
The spokesperson added that Pakistan follows a policy of enhanced engagements with its close partners and friends.
She reinforced Pakistan’s traditional partnerships with China, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic world.
She said these relationships were based on mutual trust and friendship and characterized by a tradition of robust dialogue and exchange of bilateral visits.
“Pakistan continues to pursue a policy of peaceful neighborhood, based on mutual respect and sovereign equality, with all countries of South Asia region,” she remarked.
Baloch mentioned that the year 2022, was an active year for Pakistan’s diplomacy. “Our diplomatic efforts were aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s international profile and revitalizing our external relations in protecting Pakistan’s interests. Throughout the year, there was enhanced frequency of high-level exchanges with Pakistan’s friends and partners with increased in-person meetings and interactions as the world moved out of the Covid related restrictions,” she elaborated.
During the first quarter, she recalled, former Prime Minister Imran Khan visited China and Russia. He was accompanied by then former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who also undertook visits to Romania and Spain.
“Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari undertook visits to countries in Asia, Europe and to the United States. High-level visits exchanged with Afghanistan, Austria, China, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, Tajikistan, Togo, UAE, United States and Uzbekistan helped develop important understandings with these countries,” she highlighted.
She underlined that Pakistan was grateful to all countries and international organizations that came forward with humanitarian assistance including: China, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, UAE, UK, USA, Uzbekistan, ADB, UNICEF, UNHCR, World Bank and WFP.
Commenting on Pakistan’s relations with the Central Asian Republics, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stressed that Islamabad has developed close understandings with these countries to enhance regional connectivity and cooperation in energy, transport and infrastructure.
Highlighting Pakistan’s relations with other South Asian countries Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, she said “we are keen to strengthen the existing multifaceted cooperation with these countries. In this context, Pakistan Foreign Minister held important meetings with his counterparts of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives on the sidelines of important multilateral events and conferences.”
To a question, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Belgium, China, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Uzbekistan, as well as some multilateral financial institutions and the United Nations came forward and extended humanitarian assistance to the flood-affected people of Pakistan.
Talking about Pakistan’s achievements on the diplomatic fronts, the spokesperson underscored that Pakistan managed to come out of the FATF grey list in October this year.
She said establishment of Fund for Loss and Damage at COP27 for developing countries is another significant achievement of Pakistan.
