ISLAMABAD – Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood Thursday said Pakistan and China have set a new model of cooperation in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic and all countries should
uphold multilateralism to fight the disease.
Representing Pakistan at the six-country Vice Foreign Ministers’ Video Conference from Islamabad, the foreign secretary underscored the global community needed solidarity and cooperation to fight the pandemic.
Hosted by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao, the video conference was attended b Vice-Foreign Ministers and Foreign Secretaries from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood appreciated China’s initiative to set-up this Forum and said today’s conference was taking place at a time when the region was battling against the pandemic.
Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, he said, Pakistan and China carried forward the momentum of development and construction of China, Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He lauded China’s remarkable achievement in eradicating extreme poverty.
The Foreign Secretary stressed the need to ensure equitable and affordable supply of vaccine for the developing countries. He emphasised that notions of stigmatisation and insinuations on the origin of virus must be dispelled.
He reiterated that Pakistan would continue to deepen cooperation through this platform with the regional countries, in pursuance of common developmental goals.
He also briefed the participants about the third wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan and highlighted the measures taken by the Government of Pakistan to save lives, secure livelihoods and stimulate the economy.
