by Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, March 17 (China Economic Net) - Pakistani President Arif Alvi arrived in Beijing on Monday on a two-day visit to show solidarity with China amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The president is visiting China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. On his maiden visit, he is accompanied by a high-level delegation including the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and other senior officials.

Before his departure for Beijing, while talking to media at Islamabad international airport, president Arif Alvi said that the visit to China would show firm commitment and solidarity for the Chinese government and people during the epidemic.

With untiring efforts, China is quite near to curb the virus and Chinese nation has rendered unforgettable sacrifices for the safety of the whole world, he added.

He said that Pakistan was aggrieved for the precious human lose in China because of the novel coronavirus and would pay condolences to the Chinese leadership.

We did not evacuate our citizens from Wuhan, because we believed China would take care of Pakistani people like its own citizens and we are justified for taking this decision, Mr. Arif Alvi noted.

He further added that the whole world including Pakistan should learn from the experiences of China in its battle against the deadly virus.

During this visit, a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between the two countries including the establishment of two new Joint Working Groups under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"Pakistan and China are the closest friends and time-tested partners. The two countries hold all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. This time-tested friendship is based on unparalleled mutual trust, understanding, and commonality of interests," he said.