
KARACHI -- Pakistan's President Arif Alvi visited China last week to express solidarity during the coronavirus crisis, as well as to seek Beijing's help with Pakistan's battle against the novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. Diplomatic experts are closely watching how far China can go in helping out one of its major allies in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Alvi told Pakistani wire service APP that he was visiting China to show solidarity with the people and the leadership of China while they were successfully fighting the coronavirus outbreak. In the joint statement issued by both countries after his visit, Alvi acknowledged that China's efforts have won time and set a model for the rest of the world in combating the epidemic.