On September 28, the ceremony of shipment of disaster relief supplies donated by Ningxia to Punjab Province of Pakistan was held in Yinchuan. Moin ul Haque, Ambassador of Pakistan to China, Jiang Jiang, Vice President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and Zhao Shiren, Consul General of China in Lahore, attended the ceremony online and delivered speeches respectively. Other attendees of the ceremony included officials from Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office, Ningxia Emergency Management Department, and Ningxia Communications Construction Co., Ltd.
Ambassador Moin ul Haque noted in his speech that as Pakistan suffered from unprecedented flood, Ningxia’s generous and timely support would help the country in disaster relief. The sympathy and support from friends of Ningxia once again demonstrated that China and Pakistan stand by each other in trying times and their unique friendship.
Jiang Jiang, Vice President of CPAFFC, also echoed the fine tradition between China and Pakistan in sharing weal and woe in the face of difficulties. He praised Ningxia’s donation to Punjab, saying this effort fully shows the bond between Ningxia and Punjab in tiding over difficulties together and manifests the special, ironclad and time-tested friendship between China and Pakistan.
Abdullah Khan Sumbal, Chief Secretary of Punjab Province, extended his appreciation to the CPC Ningxia Committee, the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as well as Ningxia people. He said the Punjab government would find Ningxia’s donation very helpful, useful and timely.
Zhao Shiren, Consul General of China in Lahore, also thanked Ningxia for helping Punjab in this difficult time. He expressed his belief that with the international support and the central and provincial governments taking the leadership, Pakistan will overcome the difficulties, prevail over the calamity and rebuild their homes at an early date.
China and Pakistan are close to each other and have common interests and the fine tradition of helping each other in trying times. Recently, Pakistan was struck by a flood unseen in a century, which led to heavy casualties and property damage. Ningxia feels for Punjab and has tried to help it despite the pressure brought by Covid-19. NXFAO, Ningxia Emergency Management Department and Ningxia Communications Construction Co., Ltd. have actively organized donations of funds and supplies and mobilized different sectors of society to raise 250,000 yuan, 100 tents and 10,000 quilts worth 1.5 million yuan. The supplies will be delivered to Punjab with the help of Pakistani Embassy in China to assist with its disaster relief efforts.
Going forward, Ningxia will boost exchanges and practical cooperation with Punjab in friendship city ties, economy, trade, science, technology, education, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, injecting new momentum to China-Pakistan friendship and contributing to an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era.