‘China major export market for Pakistani products’

BEIJING: Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Moin ul Haque said China is a major export market for Pakistani products and  the government is working to further enhance the access of Pakistani products to untapped sectors of the Chinese market.

In interviews with The Nation and Nawaiwaqt Haque stated, “our two countries have robust trade and investment cooperation, which is very essential for Pakistan’s economy”.

“Our relations with China are based on strong political support, strategic trust and practical cooperation. A heart-to-heart relationship between our two peoples is enjoying support across the political spectrum. No wonder this friendship remains the cornerstone of our foreign policy,” the ambassador said.

Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Main Line-1 project , he said that in line with the leadership consensus, the relevant institutions from both sides will finalize all arrangements and launch the project this year.

He also spoke about China’s popularity as a destination for Pakistani students.

“The pre-Covid figure stands at 28,000 students enrolled all across China in various disciplines, including medicine, engineering, IT, science, humanities, and modern arts, among others”.

As part of his assignment to China, the ambassador helped launch an online portal for Pakistani students and professionals, where they can connect, share their achievements, experiences and network for their job hunt in China and Pakistan.

“I firmly believe that overseas Pakistanis are our assets. They are hardworking, vibrant, patriotic, and they play a key role as Pakistan’s ambassadors in promoting its interests and strengthening relationships with host countries,” Haque said.

Moin ul Haque was appointed to China in 2020. As his term comes to an end, he reflected that “when I landed here, face-to-face interactions with the community were a bit difficult because of Covid”.

“However, this did not stop us from keeping regular engagement with them through online meetings and launching various initiatives for the community”.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, China provided support, especially in supplying over 160 million vaccine doses which were the mainstay of our inoculation drive. China was also the top country in providing generous assistance after the unprecedented floods of last year.

The ambassador’s career spans more than three decades, with his previous appointment being in France.