Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui at the Investiture Ceremony of "Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam"

Speech by Chairman Luo Zhaohui at the Investiture Ceremony of "Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam"

Your Excellency Ambassador Khalil Hashmi,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon! 

It's a great honor for me to receive the great award of "Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam". Thank you Ambassador  Hashmi for hosting today's ceremony. 

This award not only belongs to myself, but also to everyone who works hard for our two countries. It's a very kind and friendly gesture and sentiment from Pakistani government and people to China. it also symbolizes the great friendship, mutual respect, deep solidarity and solid commitments between our two great countries.   

Actually, this is the third time I have been awarded by the Pakistani government. In the year of 2007 and 2010, I got two awards respectively. Before 2006, I was in the Department of Asian Affairs of MFA, in charge of Pakistani affairs. From 2006 to 2010, I was so honored to become Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan and continue to serve our bilateral relations. 

I still remember when I was in Islamabad, how sweet Pakistani government and people treated me. I witnessed political transition from late President Musharraf to President Zardari. I witnessed Pakistani people's great contribution to and sacrifice for the anti-terrorism war including against ETIM. I will never forget how much assistance we got from Pakistani government and people during the Sichuan strong earthquake in 2008. And I will never forget how many projects we have worked together such as Chashma nuclear plant, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant, Khalid Tank, JF-17, Frigate-22 and so on. Of course, I will never forget that before I departed from Pakistan in May 2010, then President Zardari hosted a ceremony to award me Hilal-e-Pakistan in person. I am so happy to see that former President Zardari being elected as Pakistani President again. I will also never forget precious help and hospitality from then Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif, now Prime Minister of Pakistan again. 

In my following portfolios, I have always engaged with Pakistani friends and nation. Pakistan is my second home. 

Next week, I will go back to Pakistan, and I can't wait to see old friends and to meet new friends. As a foreign writer said: " History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes." I believe this rhyme is just the friendship between our two nations, it is higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, and sweeter than honey. 

Friends, 

To promote development cooperation with Pakistan is CIDCA's highest priority. It is also my personal solid commitment. 

Firstly, we will continue to enhance the Belt and Road cooperation. Pakistan was the first country to participate in the BRI. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the pilot of the BRI. The latest infrastructure projects approved by CIDCA include the new international airport at Gwadar Port, the East Bay Expressway and so on. 

Secondly, we will continue to implement GDI. Pakistan is the first country to sign the MoU on the implementation of GDI with China. Last July, CIDCA hosted the First High-level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif delivered a video address and sent ministerial representatives to the meeting. In July this year, CIDCA will host the second high-level Conference in Beijing. I would like to welcome Pakistan to actively participate in the conference. 

Thirdly, we will speed up the post-flood reconstruction. After devastating floods happened in June 2022, CIDCA urgently coordinated with relevant ministries, local governments and the military, and used military aircraft to provide one hundred million RMB of emergency relief supplies to Pakistan, and decided to provide eight hundred million yuan to Pakistan for post-disaster reconstruction. In January of 2023, I led a delegation to attend the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan in Geneva, and announced that the Chinese government would provide another one hundred million US dollars in special assistance to Pakistan. At present, assistance projects are orderly progressing. 

Fourthly, we will actively promote "small yet smart" livelihood assistance. In 2018, CIDCA took the lead in setting up the Working Group on Socio-Economic Cooperations under the framework of the Joint Cooperation Committee of the CPEC. Our focus is to carry out practical cooperation with the Pakistani side in six areas, including agriculture, education, healthcare, water supply, poverty alleviation and vocational education. Our two sides have agreed on 27 priority projects, which have already seen positive results. At the same time, we have strengthened the experience sharing and personnel training with Pakistan by organizing various seminars for officials, technical trainings and academic degree programs. To date, we have trained more than nine thousand and four hundred talents in various fields for Pakistan. 

Ladies and gentlemen, friends. 

Let's hand in hand, shoulder by shoulder, to make joint efforts to build our shared future better. Long live China-Pakistan friendship!