By Adnan Hameed TWA _____ On behalf of the President of Pakistan, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi conferred the civil award “Hilal-i -Quaid-i-Azam” on Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), at an elegant investiture ceremony held at the Embassy of Pakistan today. Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of CIDCA, was honored with the Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam in recognition of his exceptional contributions to China-Pakistan friendship. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Khalil Hashmi felicitated Ambassador Luo on receiving the prestigious award that marked a recognition of his outstanding contribution to China-Pakistan friendship. Paying rich tribute to Ambassador Luo for his meritorious services, the Ambassador called him a ‘great friend of Pakistan’ who had always been at the forefront of supporting the people and government of Pakistan. Ambassador Luo Zhaohui, in his remarks, expressed profound gratitude to the President of Pakistan for conferring on him “Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam”. Moreover, He referred to Pakistan as his ‘second home’, recalling especially the extraordinary support extended to him by the Pakistan leadership during his tenure as Ambassador of China to Pakistan. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, high-level officials, and media persons of China and Pakistan. Ambassador Luo Zhaohui considered China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative. Strengthening development cooperation with Pakistan was the top priority of China and it is also his firm personal commitment, he added. “Pakistan is the first country to participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and we will continue to strengthen development cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiatives,” he made these remarks after receiving the prestigious award at a ceremony held in Pakistan Embassy, Beijing. Luo was responsible for affairs related to Pakistan in the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China before the year 2006. From 2006-2010, he was honored to assume the role of Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, continuing to foster stronger relations between China-Pakistan to the present day.