Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou has received Pakistan's highest civil award, the Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam, in recognition of his services in strengthening of China-Pakistan relations.
Kong, who is also China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs, was presented the award at a special ceremony at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing on May 13 by the Pakistani Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid, on behalf of Pakistani President Arif Alvi.
"Kong has been a great friend of Pakistan and an ardent advocate of Pakistan-China friendship. He has earnestly worked to promote and reinforce all-weather friendship between China and Pakistan. He has cultivated good will for Pakistan in different spheres of influence in China," a statement from the Pakistani Embassy read.
Kong and his team have contributed to positive outcomes from regular high-level visits between Pakistan and China, such as Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pakistan in April 2015, and the launch and subsequent consolidation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an umbrella of infrastructure projects constructed under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.
Copyedited by Sudeshna Sarkar
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