China has agreed to provide Pakistan with test kits, protective equipment and portable fans as the country continues to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

“China has [also] decided it will provide us with a cash grant to set up a state-of-the-art isolation centre to combat the coronavirus outbreak in the country,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told a media source.

After returning from Beijing, Qureshi spoke with the TV channel. At President Xi Jinping’s invitation the FM had accompanied President Arif Alvi on their visit to China.

“They are ready to help us and have even offered to share their medical expertise to combat the spread,” Qureshi said.

The minister of foreign affairs added that one of the key reasons for the visit was to demonstrate solidarity with China as the nation returned to normal after the pandemic.

“You cannot imagine the impact of our gesture,” said Qureshi. “The entire Chinese leadership appreciated our efforts, especially our move not to evacuate our students, residents from the country when every other country was.”

“They told us we were the first delegation to visit us since the virus broke out, which re-affirmed our ‘iron brother’ status,” he said.

Speaking about the steps taken by China, especially in Wuhan, Qureshi said Beijing’s steps show the virus can be regulated.

“There was only one reported cases in Wuhan yesterday, which shows that the measures that they had taken were effective. The protocols in place worked,” the foreign minister said.

The Chinese leadership has told us they will stand with us as we curb the Pakistan outbreak, Qureshi added.

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