Pakistan, China launch joint mechanism to fight COVID-19

Pakistan and China have set up a joint prevention mechanism on COVID-19 to strengthen coordination and exchanges between the two countries as well as to promote cooperation in the fight against coronavirus, Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.

While addressing a media briefing in Beijing, Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the first virtual meeting of the joint prevention controlled mechanism was held in this regard where representatives from sectors and departments of foreign affairs, public health, education and customs from both sides participated.

The Chinese official said that the mechanism is aimed at strengthening coordination and exchanges between the countries while maintaining an ongoing response in the long fight against the virus.

Regarding the decisions made by the two sides, Lijian apprised that first, both the countries will continue to take targeted prevention measures to avert rebound and spreading of the pandemic and stem cross border spreading.

Secondly, the two countries will strengthen cooperation on COVID-19 by sharing experiences so that the future course of action is decided to fight off the disease.

“China will continue to provide support and assistance to the best of our capacity," he said.

Thirdly, Zhao said, both countries will continue providing facilitation to personnel exchange and economical corporation while maintaining a pandemic response.

“We will take good care of the overseas Chinese and Pakistani students and nationals to ensure the smooth implementation of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) building,” he added.

Zhao Lijian remarked that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners. Remembering the time when President Arif Alvi led a delegation to China to show firm support during the testing times of pandemic, he said that Pakistan also poured its national resources to provide assistance to China to battle out the contagion.

"In reciprocity, China also provided medical supplies to Pakistan through different channels like the government, military, businesses and social organisations, he added.

“We had sent the medical teams, held virtual meetings to help each other,” he said, emphasising that this is an embodiment of the two countries and as a community with a shared future sharing wheel and woe.”

He hoped that this mechanism will help the two countries to form synergy in anti-epidemic response and to prevail over the virus at an early date.