China has always stood with Pakistan in difficult times: Chinese Embassy

Islamabad: The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has said that China had always stood with Pakistan in difficult times.

“A friend in need is a friend indeed. From time to time, we always stand together in times of difficulties! Chin Pak dosti zindabad (long live China-Pakistan friendship)!,” the Embassy tweeted.

The Embassy further said: “A batch of over 200 Pakistani nationals have arrived in Jeddah from Port Sudan aboard the Chinese navy vessel Weishanhu.”

Earlier, Pakistan thanked China for the help. “A batch of 216 Pakistani nationals arrived in Jeddah from Port Sudan aboard Chinese Navy’s Weishanhu. We are grateful to our Chinese friends for this gesture of support and friendship,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry tweeted.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, a third batch of 97 Pakistani nationals from Port Sudan arrived in Karachi from Jeddah via a C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), as the fighting between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (TSF) entered its third week with hundreds killed.

“The government of Pakistan will continue to facilitate the safe return of stranded Pakistanis,” Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Twitter. A day earlier, 259 Pakistanis who were evacuated from Sudan reached Karachi.

The PAF operated special flights, for the repatriation of 259 Pakistanis from Sudan, according to a news release. It said 149 passengers were brought back by a PAF Airbus, while 110 were repatriated via a C-130 plane.