Pakistan offers field hospital, doctors to assist Chinese authorities

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday held telephonic conversation with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and extended Pakistan's offer of sending a field hospital as well as a group of doctors to assist Chinese authorities in efforts to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus.

According to Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui, the foreign minister conveyed his condolences on the loss of precious lives due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China.

He lauded the relentless efforts undertaken by China for the containment of the virus and underscored that the government and the people of Pakistan stand firmly behind China in its resolute and momentous efforts to deal with the virus. On behalf of the government of Pakistan, she added that the foreign minister extended the offer of sending a field hospital to China, as well as sending group of doctors, to the brotherly people of China to assist them in the recovery efforts.

"The foreign minister also hoped that the Chinese people under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang will overcome the enormous challenge and emerge stronger in its aftermath," she said.

Qureshi also thanked the Chinese authorities who have taken immense pains to help the Pakistani students in Wuhan and hoped that Beijing will continue to take best possible measures for the protection of Pakistani nationals in China.

"State Councilor Wang Yi, on behalf of Premier Li Keqiang, conveyed a special message of gratitude to Prime Minister Imran Khan underlining that Pakistan had shown tremendous support and solidarity with the Chinese people at this difficult time when they are fighting against the spread of coronavirus," the spokesperson said.

She said that the Chinese foreign minister also thanked Pakistan for the assistance it is rendering to help China deal with the outbreak of virus. State Councilor Wang Yi underscored that China is taking effective, speedy and urgent measures to contain the coronavirus.

The global community, he added, has recognized those efforts. The Director General of World Health Organization has expressed full confidence in China's abilities and efforts to contain the virus, the Chinese foreign minister added.

He thanked Foreign Minister Qureshi for Pakistan's offer of medical hospital as well sending a group of doctors to China. He assured Foreign Minister Qureshi that the Pakistani students in China are being treated "like our own." The Chinese government, he asserted, is doing everything to ensure the safety, health and well-being of Pakistani students.