China, five South Asian countries call for joint strategy to tackle COVID-19 pandemic

April 29, 2021: China and five South Asian countries, including Pakistan, have called for a joint strategy to cope with the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was expressed as a common response in a joint statement of  Six - Country's Virtual Conference of foreign ministers on Covid-19.

The Participating countries include China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

The forum agreed that vaccines should be distributed on the basis of equity and justice to defeat this contagion. 

The Foreign Ministers reiterated their firm support to WHO’s due role in the global cooperation against COVID-19.

They were unanimous to deepen Belt and Road cooperation, open their borders under the premise of pandemic prevention and control for smooth trade, keep the industrial and supply chains stable and secure, and give a stronger boost to economic recovery and the improvement of people’s lives.

China agreed to support the participating countries to overcome the impact of COVID-19 on their economies through an enhanced level of economic cooperation and collaboration.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi represented Pakistan at the conference.

Radio Pakistan