ISLAMABAD: Foreign Ministers of China and five South Asian countries including Pakistan on Tuesday held their virtual dialogue on promoting cooperation against Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting was part of the series of meetings hosted by China since July last year on cooperation against the pandemic and economic revival.

The meetings are being seen as Beijing’s fresh outreach to the region.

Besides Pakistan and China, the other countries that participated in the meeting were Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin at the daily media briefing in Beijing, hailed the conference as “latest example” of China and South Asian countries standing in solidarity to fight the epidemic and resume economic and social development.

He said the anti-Covid-19 meetings between China and South Asian countries have since last year resulted in “enhanced cooperation” cooperation among the participating countries.

The latest meeting took place as many South Asian countries including Pakistan are witnessing Covid-19 spike that has claimed thousands of lives.

China says the meeting was held to inject new impetus into regional efforts to defeat the virus and achieve sustainable development.

India, which has been worst hit in the latest wave, was invited to join the forum. “China keeps the door wide open for the participation of other South Asian countries, including India in the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation,” Wenbin said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, while speaking at the meeting, emphasized greater collaboration between the participating countries of the dialogue against Covid-19 pandemic, poverty alleviation and in providing disaster relief.

“The pandemic is a common challenge requiring joint efforts,” he underscored.

He said that the key deliverables of the Conference included China-South Asia Emergency Supplies Reserve, China-South Asia Poverty Alleviation Cooperative Development Centre and China-South Asia E-Commerce Cooperation Forum on Poverty Alleviation in Rural Areas.

Mr Qureshi said these initiatives will equip participating countries to better respond to health emergencies and natural disasters, and will be helpful in eradicating poverty.

He underlined that economic and human security stands at the centre of regional development paradigm.

The foreign minister stressed the need to ensure equitable and affordable supply of vaccine as ‘global public good.’

He further called for discouraging stigmatization and insinuations on the origin of the virus.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021