On January 27th, H. E. Ambassador Yao Jing hosted a Chinese Spring Festival reception at the Embassy. More than 200 Pakistani friends from political parties and government departments, think tanks, universities and media were present. The majority of them had worked and studied in China.

Ambassador Yao thanked Pakistani friends for their care and support for China-Pakistan relations and the work of the Embassy. He said, over the past 4 decades, China's achievement of reform and opening up has gained worldwide attention, its economy has grown by a yearly average of 9.5%, the total GDP has increased nearly 60 times, and it has lifted more than 700 million people out of absolute poverty. China has contributed more than 30% of the world economic growth for many years in a row, and become the stabilizer and power source of the global economic recovery.

Ambassador Yao stated that this year will usher in the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Committed to the construction of a new type of international relations and the Community of Shared Future for human kinds, the Chinese people will continue to pursue a win-win strategy of opening up under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. China will host the second "Belt and Road" Forum for International Cooperation and the second China International Import Expo. China will open its door wider and wider, and is willing to work with other countries of the world for common development.

Ambassador Yao said, China-Pakistan relations have made steady progress in the past year, cooperation in various fields has been comprehensively deepened, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has smoothly entered the new stage of enrichment and expansion. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited China successfully in November 2018. The two governments issued the Joint Statement, in which they agreed to further strengthen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and building closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future in the New Era. In 2019, China-Pakistan relations will embrace new opportunities for development. We believe that with the concerted efforts, the cause of China-Pakistan friendship will surely reach a higher level.

As a representative of the guests, Zamir Awan, a researcher at the China Research Center at the National University of Science and Technology of Pakistan, said that as firm as a rock, the friendship between China and Pakistan is unbreakable and has stood all the vicissitudes of international politics and the test of time. The two sides always respect and support each other on the issues of each other's core interests. China-Pakistan friendship is the consensus of all walks of life in Pakistan. No matter which party comes to power, the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan will never change. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship project of President Xi Jinping's great "Belt and Road Initiative" , carries the common dream of the two peoples, and both sides have a responsibility to do it well to benefit people of both countries and the region. Zamir said that many of those present had studied and worked in China, and hoped all circles in Pakistan will continue to firmly commit themselves to the cause of China-Pakistan friendship and make greater contributions to the development of China-Pakistan relations and to the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

At the reception, the guests also enjoyed the theme photo exhibition on the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, praising the great achievements of China's development. The reception was decorated with lights and filled with a rich festive atmosphere.