ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan and China observe 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations on Friday, President Dr. Arif Alvi and Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to deepen bilateral cooperation and achieve high quality development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Both the leaders exchanged congratulatory letters to each other wherein they extended greetings to each other on behalf of their respective governments and people.

“On this historic occasion, we reaffirm our commitment to further elevate Pakistan-China friendship to new heights and build Closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the new era,” President Alvi said in his letter to President Xi Jinping.

He also conveyed his best wishes for the Chinese president’s good health and happiness, and continued progress and prosperity of the people of China.

In his letter, Xi Jinping said China and Pakistan were all-weather strategic cooperative partners that stood firmly by each other on issues of core interests and major concerns.

“The mutual trust and friendship between the two countries have gone through the test of 70 years of international changes and remain rock-solid, and have become the most valuable strategic asset of the two peoples,” he stated.

He said in recent years, with the joint efforts of both sides, the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had achieved remarkable results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries, and adding strong impetus to the regional prosperity.

“In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan have shared weal and woe, and sincerely helped each other, and the ironclad friendship between the two countries has been further sublimated,” President Xi said.

He said he attached great importance to the development of China-Pakistan relations.

“I am ready to work with Your Excellency to deepen strategic communication and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, promote the high-quality development of the CPEC, and work together to build a closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the new era, for the benefit of the two countries and the two peoples,” he remarked.

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita says His Majesty the King firmly opposes any attempt to change the legal and historic status of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque and to undermine the tranquility of the populations of the holy places, in addition to the illegal eviction of residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood

News Desk

NEW YORK: Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed at a meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the unwavering commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al-Quds Committee, to the Palestinian cause and to peace and stability in the Middle East.

His Majesty the King firmly opposes any attempt to change the legal and historic status of Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque and to undermine the tranquility of the populations of the holy places, in addition to the illegal eviction of residents of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, said Bourita in an address on this occasion.

Bourita stressed that His Majesty King Mohammed VI has always insisted on the imperative to refrain from any act likely to precipitate the region towards more tensions, given that the persistence of unilateral measures and acts contrary to legality and international law only widen the gap between the two parties and jeopardize the chances of peace in the region.

In this regard, the minister recalled that His Mjesty King Mohammed VI underlines the need to preserve the Holy City as a common legacy of humanity, a land of encounter and a symbol of peaceful coexistence for the followers of the three monotheistic religions.

Mr. Bourita mentioned in this context Al-Quds Call, which was signed by His Majesty the King and His Holiness Pope Francis in Rabat on March 30, 2019. Referring to the current escalation, the minister deplored that “once again, and for the same reasons, serious acts of violence have been committed”, which claimed several lives, destroyed civilian installations and triggered more suffering, which threatens regional and international peace and security.

“The escalation of fighting and violence we are witnessing is the inevitable result of the stalemate in the peace process in the region, exacerbated by the repeated violations against the Palestinian people, and the proliferation of hate speech by ‘extremist organizations’,” Mr. Bourita said.

The minister recalled that Morocco reaffirms its full support for a just and fair peace based on international legality and the two-State solution approved by the international community, as there is no other alternative to a political solution favoring the creation of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state within the borders of June 4, 1967 and with Al-Quds-East as its capital.

To this end, the Kingdom urges the international community, in particular the Security Council and the Quartet, to engage in stopping the escalation, to act actively to break the cycle of violence and to initiate intense diplomatic action in view of a peaceful settlement, in accordance with resolutions based on international legality, Mr. Bourita pointed out. The minister also stressed the urgent need for intervention by the international community to help the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Al Quds and the Gaza Strip, in order to overcome the impact of this tragic situation.

Bourita recalled that the Kingdom, following the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, took the initiative to send emergency humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which includes basic food products, emergency medicine and blankets. “This royal decision is part of the Kingdom’s unwavering support for the just Palestinian cause and its permanent solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people.

It is also part of the continuation of His Majesty the King’s action, in his capacity as chairman of Al-Quds Committee, at the political and diplomatic levels but also on the ground, in particular through the Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency, for the benefit of the people of the Holy City, in order to provide them with decent means of subsistence and to support their capacities and resilience,” Bourita said.

Firmly attached to peace and stability in the Middle East, Morocco is sparing no effort to fully contribute to international efforts aimed at ending the escalation of violence and fostering a constructive dynamic for peace in the region, the minister concluded.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Suh Sangpyo meets Minister Shafqat Mahmood; both sides discuss enhancement of mutual cooperation as well

Saifullah

ISLAMABAD: The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Suh Sangpyo called upon the Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Division, and for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood in Islamabad.

Shafqat Mahmood was accompanied by his core teams from both of the Ministries under his portfolio. Suh Sangpyo discussed with Shafqat Mahmood the rich Buddhist heritage that exists in Pakistan and the need for its preservation and promot ion to the world.

Ambassador Suh Sangpyo stated that through the interest and commitment of the Government of the Republic of Korea, the National Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea is in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Heritage and Cultural Division of the Government of Pakistan for an initial grant of USD 4 Million that will focus upon the preservation of Gandhara Buddist Heritage.

Suh Sangpyo also shared with Shafqat Mahmood that only 1500 Pakistani graduate students are currently studying in the Republic of Korea and he sees this as an opportunity to increase the educational collaboration and student to student exchanges between both countries in the fields of IT, engineering and similar skills based educational programs that can ultimately benefit Pakistan and increase further avenues for employment for its youth. The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea hoped that this meeting would prove to be instrumental in further enhancing cultural and educational cooperation between the Government of Korea and the Government of Pakistan.