Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan in a meeting with the Deputy Governor of Shaanxi province, Mr. Jing Junhai in the historical city of Xi’an on August 9, 2010.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to China, Masood Khan has said that Pakistan is grateful to the government and people of China for the timely assistance provided for the immediate relief of flood affected people in Pakistan.

He said this while talking to the Deputy Governor of Shaanxi province, Mr. Jing Junhai in the historical city of Xi’an. The Ambassador met him on the sidelines of the launching ceremony of the ‘Silk Road Revival Car Rally’ which has started from Xi’an and will pass through the eight countries located on the ancient Silk Road covering a distance of 15000 km in 55 days. Due to flood situation in the country, the car rally would not be able to pass through Pakistan this year.

Masood Khan said Pakistan appreciates the fact that Chinese government and people have always stood by Pakistan in difficult times. He said the three aircraft sent by China carrying tents, medicines, water purifiers, and generators have proved to be a blessing for the flood affected people.

Mr. Jing Junhai said the symbolic importance of the car rally has increased manifold with the participation of the Pakistani Ambassador. He said Pakistan and China enjoy all-weather friendship and Xi’an will forge closer ties with Pakistan to promote connectivity by rail, road and air. He said Pakistan and Xi’an enjoy historical and cultural ties and Xi’an has sister city relations with Lahore.

Later, while addressing the ceremony which took place at the Danfeng Gate of Xi’an Daming Palace heritage area, Ambassador Masood Khan welcomed the idea of the revival of Silk Road and said that the caravan of cars will show how these regions were connected in ancient times through geography, history, and trade. It will show how in contemporary times we are joined by mountains and rivers and the eternal bonds of commerce and culture, he added.

Ambassador Khan, Deputy Governor of Shaanxi province and Vice Mayor of Xi’an city presented car keys to the 34 drivers and regarded these young men and women, as messengers of peace and ambassadors of friendship. They, he said, will bring closer people of the countries they will visit.

Masood Khan said Pakistan and China are not only bound together by rivers and mountains but also “joined by the love and affection that the people of the two countries have in their hearts for each other. That is why we say that our friendship is higher than mountains, deeper than oceans, and sweeter than honey.”

The Ambassador said that Pakistan is keen to deepen economic and cultural ties with Shaanxi province particularly the great city of Xi’an.

Deputy Governor of Shaanxi appreciated the gesture of the Pakistani Ambassador to have visited Xi’an for bidding farewell to the drivers, although the car rally was not passing through Pakistan this year.

The Ambassador also attended a banquet hosted in his honour by the Vice Mayor of Xi’an, Mr. Duan Xiannian who is also the Supervisor of the Silk Road group.