ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked Chinese President Xi today (Sunday) for his strong message on World Environment Day, hosted by Pakistan this year.
Taking to Twitter, the Prime Minister stated that Pakistan’s hosting of the day reflected its commitment to counter environmental degradation.
He also applauded President Xi’s leadership in combating climate change and biodiversity loss along with his offer to cooperate over ecosystem restoration.
I thank ???????? President Xi’s strong message on World Environment Day 2021 hosted by ???????? 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
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) June 6, 2021
Chinese president message
A day ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping had 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 promote the sustainable development of humanity”.
He stressed that Earth was humanity’s shared home, and a sound ecosystem is essential for the prosperity of civilisations. He urged humanity to “respect nature, follow its laws, protect it, and endeavor to foster a new relationship where humans and nature can both prosper and live in harmony”.
“Climate change, biodiversity loss, worsening desertification and frequent extreme weather events have all posed severe challenges to human survival and development,” the Chinese president added.
World Environment Day
Pakistan hosted the World Environment Day celebrations this year on June 5, the first time in history in partnership with the UN Environment Program (UNEP).
Experts view this as recognition of the country’s much-publicised battle against the simmering climate change challenges and an opportunity to lure investment to promote ecotourism and showcase to the world its varied ecology from snowcapped peaks in the north to glistering waters in the south, besides the abundant wildlife.
They, however, argue that the country has a long journey ahead to tackle a slew of environmental challenges, from unplanned urbanisation to daunting deforestation, and ever-increasing pollution to unseasonal rains, accompanied by floods.
