China gathers funding for flood relief operations.

 LAHORE: The Chinese Consulate in Lahore has mobilised resources to support the flood relief and recovery operations, along with the local Chinese community. Additionally, two batches of emergency humanitarian aid in kind and money were sent by China. Zhao Shiren, the Chinese Consul General in Lahore, spoke at a webinar to mark the 71st anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. The event was sponsored by the Institute of International Relations and Media Research (IIRMR).

He claimed that China has expressed its regret and anguish over the lives lost and the damage to property, showing solidarity with Pakistan, which was severely affected by the flash flood. The implementation of the Framework Agreements on Industrial and Agricultural Cooperation and people's livelihood projects may be discussed at the upcoming round of the CPEC JCC meeting, he noted.

According to him, all five of the major CPEC-related projects in Punjab have been completed or are on track to do so, producing early harvests to everyone's delight. "Under President Xi Jinping's and Prime Minister Shehbaz's strategic direction and steadfast leadership, the CPEC process has been further accelerated with new Pakistan speed, entering a fast-track growth and expansion. The Karot Hydro-power Plant started producing electricity, the Gwadar Port Development made significant progress, and the East Bay Expressway went into service," he continued. IIRMR Chairman Muhammad Mehdi stated, "We are delighted that our great ally and neighbouring country China is standing by our side as always in this time of trouble. Pakistan is currently suffering from a tremendous natural tragedy.At this challenging time, the leadership of China is sending Pakistani citizens a lot of encouraging words. President of China Xi Jinping expressed solidarity and pledged that China will keep supplying Pakistan with desperately needed help and support for its disaster relief efforts.

"It is absolutely force majeure for Pakistan to suffer from the catastrophic flood this year, but China has also suffered from major catastrophic or most catastrophic floods over the years," Prof. Zhou Rong of Chong Yong Institute of Renmin University stated. China is one of the major nations that is now providing Pakistan with all-out assistance for flood-related rescue and relief efforts, according to IIRMR President Yasir Habib Khan. It is imperative that a new "Charter of CPEC" be signed to protect the project from outside pressure and politization, as Pakistan experienced with its nuclear programme, as the 71st anniversary of relations between Pakistan and China approaches.

The people of China and Pakistan have honestly aided each other during the past 71 years, according to Luo Jianxue, president of the Lahore Overseas Chinese Association (LOCA).