PM thanks Xi for ‘strong message’

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his strong message on World Environment Day, which was hosted by Pakistan this year.

“I thank [Chinese] President Xi’s strong message on World Environment Day 2021 hosted by [Pakistan] reflecting our commitment to counter environment degradation. We laud Pres Xi’s ldrship in combatting climate change & biodiversity loss & his offer to step up cooperation on ecosystem restoration,” he said in a message on Twitter.

A day earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the international community to work together with unprecedented ambition and action to strive for a fair and reasonable system of global environmental governance, featuring win-win cooperation, and to promote the sustainable development of humanity.

Xi made these remarks in a congratulatory letter to the World Environment Day events held in Islamabad. The event was hosted by Pakistan and addressed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and others. “The international community should work together with unprecedented ambition and action to strive for a fair and reasonable system of global environmental governance featuring win-win cooperation and promote the sustainable development of humanity,” said the letter received from Beijing.

Xi pointed out that the Chinese civilisation has always valued harmony between humans and nature, and that ecological conservation has been incorporated into China’s overall plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Separately, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday also appreciated Prime Minister Imran for starting the 10 Billion Trees Tsunami project to deal with climate change.

In his message on World Environment Day, Johnson said that climate change is driven once again by our actions and the way we treat the natural world. He urged the countries to redouble efforts to control the rise in temperature.

He saluted PM Imran for promising to plant 10 billion trees to tackle climate change and also vowed to start a Pakistan-like plantation drive in the United Kingdom.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said through future green financing, Pakistan was proud to take a lead in the conservation of ecological systems and ensure a secure and livable environment for its coming generations.

Addressing an event on green financing innovations organised by the Ministry of Climate Change in connection with World Environment Day, the prime minister said it was high time for Pakistan to value its natural resources to combat the consequences of climate change.

Imran on the occasion witnessed the issuance of a joint statement by the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany to engage in a dialogue on the modalities of Pakistan’s first nature performance green bond.