President assures full support to quake-hit China

ISLAMABAD : President Pervez Musharraf visited the Chinese embassy on Wednesday to express condolences over the devastating earthquake that killed more than 13,000 people in China, and said Pakistan stood by its Chinese brethren in this hour of suffering. The President signed the Visitor’s Book and later in his remarks to the officials expressed his confidence that the Chinese people and the government would be able to surmount the calamity and offer better life to the affected people.
“The news of earthquake in China came as a shock to people in Pakistan,” he said, adding, that Pakistan had suffered the similar tragedy and knew the devastation caused by such calamities.
China has accepted Pakistan’s offer to send relief goods and President Musharraf said relief flights would be despatched soon to provide immediate help to the people struck by 7.8 magnitude quake on Monday.
The quake caused immense loss of life and property in Sichuan province in the country’s southwest.
President Musharraf recalled the prompt and invaluable support by China in the wake of Oct. 8 earthquake in 2005 and said Pakitan would never forget the Chinese support.
He was confident that like Pakistan, China would also be able to convert this challenge into an opportunity by providing better facilities to the affected people.
Recording his impression in the Visitor’s Book, President Musharraf on behalf of the government and people assured Pakistan’s full support to China and its people in their efforts to surmount the tragedy.
The people of Pakistan in unison express their grief and total solidarity with the Chinese brethren,” he wrote.
Chinese ambassador Lou Zhaohui thanked Pakistan for its support and noted that the President and the Prime Minister sent message of sympathy and condolences immediately after the quake.
The ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Pakistani people and the government for their concern and offer of relief assistance.