Reliable sources say that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China in the first week of November.
“The last-minute details are being worked out, but the tour is very much in the offing,” sources told The News on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing organized an event regarding the floods in Pakistan. “It was a pleasure to host representatives of multilateral organizations, Chinese think tanks and academic institutions at the embassy. They were briefed on the recent floods in Pakistan and the risks facing Pakistan from climate change. Impressed by their willingness to contribute, Pakistan Ambassador Moinul Haque said.
Interestingly, Moin was also considered as the future foreign secretary at one point, but his tenure expires next year.
According to a statement, the event in Beijing was attended by international organizations, Chinese think tanks, NGOs, members of the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) and members of the Pakistani community.
Speaking on the occasion, Moin informed the audience about the severity and nature of recent unprecedented floods in Pakistan. Thanking the international community, especially China and the United Nations for their support, he reiterated the need for proactive climate action and international solidarity to mitigate the effects of climate change. He asserted that it is unfortunate that despite being a low carbon emitting country, Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. He urged rich countries to help developing states affected by climate change. He expressed the hope that the international community would stay with Pakistan in the phase of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
CCG President Henry Huao Wang highlighted that it is extremely important to strengthen international cooperation on climate change. Sharing China’s experience in tackling climate change, he expressed solidarity with Pakistan and welcomed a diverse group of speakers and audience to the event.
CCG Secretary General and founder of the Global Young Leaders Dialogue (GYLD) Mabel Low Miao noted the massive loss of life and essential infrastructure caused by the floods in Pakistan. He highlighted the need for collective action in the context of climate disaster in Pakistan and emphasized the importance of international solidarity in this regard.
In his keynote speech, Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, highlighted the impact of climate change in various ways, including floods, food security and sea level rise. Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and the damage caused by recent floods, he stressed the need for collective action to address climate challenges.
Other keynote speakers included Professor Shehbaz Khan, China Resident Coordinator of UNESCO. Wan Nopech, UNHCR Representative in China; Ali Machumu, Director General of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization; Ambassador Sohail Khan, Deputy Secretary General, SCO; Graziella Leite Piccoli, ICRC Deputy Head of Regional Delegation East Asia, and Zhou Jinfeng.
Pakistan wants China to roll over safe deposits.
On September 30, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar cooperated with the Chinese ambassador to secure a rollover of $2 billion of State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) reserves in March 2023 to meet financing requirements under the IMF programme. asked for
According to the IMF condition, Pakistan has to get a rollover of $2 billion in safe deposits for the current financial year.
The development came as US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken called on Pakistan to seek debt relief from its close ally China in the wake of devastating floods across the country.
Blanken made these remarks after a meeting with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Washington on September 16.
According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong met Finance Minister Ishaq Dar here on Friday at the Finance Division.
He apprised the Ambassador about the damage caused to infrastructure, agriculture, lives and property and economy at large due to unprecedented floods in Pakistan.
He also appreciated the support given by the Chinese leadership in refinancing the RMB 15 billion ($2.24 billion) syndicated facility to Pakistan and added that the rollover of SAFE China’s $2 billion reserves in March 2023 Asked for the ambassador’s help in making it easier.
