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    Nasdaq Celebrates Pakistan's Independence Day

    Written by: Staff Report
    Posted on: August 26, 2016 | | 中文

    Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations at Nasdaq, New York

    Dr Lodhi rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ Stock Exchange in New York’s Wall Street, marking the celebration of Pakistan’s independence that the Pakistan American Business Association had helped organize. The Pakistan flag decorated a giant screen in the Times Square, and the ceremony was carried live on it, while all American television channels covered it in their financial segments. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, herself dressed in Pakistan’s green, eloquently informed the audience that “Pakistan is on the rise”, its economy on the upswing, inflation down, foreign exchange reserves increasing while remittances were at a record high. Stressing the fact that it now had an investor-friendly environment, she highlighted Pakistan’s importance as the regional hub of trade and energy corridors, an indirect reference to the $46 billion project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC.

    Nasdaq Celebrates Independence Day of Pakistan

     

    She read out the Prime Minister’s message: “Pakistan has a bright economic future, powered by a hard-working people and its resilient democracy”.  Dr Maleeha Lodhi had once again created a synergy in projecting a dynamic image of Pakistan, but this time on the Wall Street.

    Nasdaq Celebrates Independence Day of Pakistan

     


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021