Pakistan Ambassador Khalil Hashmi bids farewell in Beijing, hails enduring Pakistan-China ties

BEIJING, Sep 09 (APP):Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi marked the end of his posting with a farewell reception at Pakistan House in Beijing on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to Chinese friends and colleagues while highlighting the enduring friendship and expanding cooperation between Pakistan and China.

The reception brought together Chinese officials and diplomats, members of the Pakistani community, media representatives, business representatives and members of the diplomatic corps, reflecting the broad network of people-to-people and institutional ties connecting the two countries.

Reflecting on his nearly 34-month tenure in China, Hashmi said extensive travel across the country had given him a deeper understanding of China’s development experience and its approach to international cooperation, China Economic Net reported.

“That gave me some insight, and I think I learned a few things, which helped me better understand initiatives centered on shared development, security and civilization,” he said.

Hashmi said these experiences had also helped him better understand concepts such as “shared prosperity,” “shared development,” “win-win” cooperation and a “shared future.”

Hashmi said he was deeply impressed by what he described as the wisdom and long-term thinking behind China’s development.

During his tenure, Hashmi said efforts were made to broaden Pakistan-China engagement beyond government-to-government relations, with greater emphasis on business-to-business and people-to-people exchanges.

Among the initiatives, he cited a Pakistan-China fashion show held at the Great Wall, cultural concerts, mango festivals and a Pakistan food festival in Chengdu, describing such activities as platforms for bringing the people and cultures of the two countries closer.

“We were able to achieve many things on the business-to-business level and also people-to-people,” Hashmi said.

He also highlighted the establishment of four new Pakistan Studies Centers in China, in Shenzhen, Shandong, Liaoning and Hangzhou.

According to Hashmi, such platforms can promote mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation in areas including education, research, trade, investment and business.

“These are great platforms to promote Pakistan-China friendship, understanding, and more and more business, investment, trade,” he said.

Hashmi also pointed to efforts to deepen subnational cooperation, including the establishment of the sister-province relationship between Pakistan’s Punjab Province and China’s Zhejiang Province, as well as moves to develop new ties involving Liaoning and Hunan.

Speaking about Pakistan-China relations, Hashmi described the bilateral friendship as “unique” and “very special,” particularly as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

“Despite our very different cultures, differences in language, governance systems, and political and economic systems, we have been able to forge one of the most enduring interstate relationships,” he said.

He said the strength of the relationship had been built through the efforts of generations of leaders, diplomats and people from both countries, resulting in what Pakistan and China commonly describe as an “ironclad friendship.”

Hashmi noted Pakistan’s support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.

“Pakistan, of course, was always among the first countries to lend support to these initiatives by President Xi Jinping,” he said.

Hashmi expressed appreciation to Chinese officials and colleagues for their friendship, cooperation and support throughout his posting.

“Without your support and without your assistance and without your friendship, what we were able to achieve for Pakistan and China would not have been possible,” he said.

He also thanked his colleagues at the Pakistan Embassy and the country’s consulates in China, describing the achievements during his tenure as an “excellent team effort.”

The ambassador also acknowledged the contribution of his wife, Marium Mahmood, for her support throughout his tenure and her involvement in activities connecting the spouses of heads of diplomatic missions in Beijing.

Hashmi’s departure comes as Pakistan and China mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, with both countries continuing to emphasize people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment, cultural cooperation and connectivity as important areas of bilateral cooperation.