President Xi Jinping Held Talks with Pakistani President Arif Alvi
President Xi Jinping held talks with Pakistani President Arif Alvi at the Great Hall of the People on March 17.
Xi noted that the special bond between China and Pakistan is the choice of history and enjoys deep roots among the two peoples.
Xi noted that as the epidemic is breaking out in many countries around the world, it is high time that countries respond with solidarity and cooperation. Bearing in mind that all countries are in a community with a shared future, China has acted in an open, transparent, and responsible manner to provide timely information on the epidemic and share experience on containment, diagnosis, and treatment of it. China is ready to contribute more to curbing the spread of the epidemic globally and will continue to provide support and assistance to Pakistan.
Alvi noted that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have taken on this adversity with outstanding leadership and mobilization capability, and the Chinese people have shown great solidarity and dedication. Other countries need to learn from Chinas experience and practices. China will emerge from the epidemic even stronger. The attempts by certain forces to use the epidemic to stigmatize and isolate China will gain no support and are doomed to fail.
Alvi also said that Pakistan-China friendship and solidarity stand out particularly in testing times. Pakistan appreciates Chinas support and assistance and will stand by China to tide over this difficulty.
Wang Yi: China-Italy Friendship Will Grow in Joint Fight Against COVID-19 Outbreak
On March 10, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a phone call from Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio of Italy.
Di Maio thanked China for offering sympathy and support, and hailed it as an apt reflection of the tradition of friendship between the Chinese and Italian people. He said that the Italian government is closely following and drawing on Chinas successful experience and taking strong measures to prevent the spread of the disease. He asked for Chinas assistance to help address the urgent need for medical supplies and equipment in his country. He also commended the Chinese community in Italy for playing a positive role in the outbreak response, and affirmed Italys continued willingness to do everything it can to take good care of their health and safety.
Wang said that China, a good friend and comprehensive strategic partner of Italy, fully understands the challenge confronting Italy. He noted that China will never forget the invaluable support from Italy when China was at the most trying moment of its epidemic response. Likewise, China will firmly stand by the Italian people under the current circumstances. Although demand for medical supplies remains high in China, we will overcome difficulties to provide masks and other medical supplies to Italy and increase export of materials and equipment badly needed in Italy. Chinese provinces and cities will support and help their sister provinces and cities in Italy, while Chinese companies are also ready to help.
The 8th China-Japan High-level Political Dialogue Held in Tokyo
On February 28, 2020, Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, co-chaired the 8th China-Japan High-level Political Dialogue in Tokyo with the head of Japans National Security Council Shigeru Kitamura.
The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on preparations for President Xi Jinpings visit to Japan and agreed to take the implementation of a series of important consensuses as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust, strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation, further consolidate the improving momentum in bilateral relations, and elevate China-Japan relations in the new era to new highs.
Yang Jiechi pointed out that in the face of the epidemic, China and Japan have assisted each other in overcoming difficulties together. It is believed that after the test of the epidemic, the lasting friendship between China and Japan will increasingly become an aspiration and manifest in actions of the two peoples.
Shigeru Kitamura spoke highly of the Chinese sides resolute and powerful measures to combat the epidemic with remarkable results, saying that the Chinese sides experience in fighting the epidemic has served as a positive example for Japan.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in scientific and technological innovation and third-party markets, and create favorable business environments for each others companies to invest and start doing business.