COVID-19: China's Xi wishes Pakistan PM speedy recovery

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday conveyed his best wishes for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's recovery from COVID-19.

"President Xi Jinping sent a letter to Hon. PM @ImranKhanPTI and wished him a speedy recovery," Chinese ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong tweeted. "President Xi also stressed that China would always stand firmly with Pakistan and join hands to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic."

Khan tested positive for the disease on March 20, two days after receiving his first vaccine dose. He was self-isolating, but earlier in the day met his media team at his residence in the capital Islamabad.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted: “Best wishes to Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI for a speedy recovery from COVID-19.”

Pakistan is witnessing a surge in coronavirus infections, and the overall caseload stands at 640,988, including 14,028 fatalities.

The country is currently vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and senior citizens using Sinopharm doses donated by China. Besides signing up for COVAX, it has also bought more than a million doses of Chinese Sinopharm and CanSino COVID-19 vaccines.