China presents historic diplomatic award to Pakistan’s ambassador in Beijing

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi awarded Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, the "Outstanding Diplomat Medal" on Monday, making Hashmi the first serving ambassador in Beijing and the first Pakistani ambassador to receive the honor.

According to the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, it was also the first time China's foreign ministry has introduced a formal awards program for foreign envoys.

The ceremony was held at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Chinese capital, according to a press release from the Pakistan embassy.

Seven other current and former ambassadors received the medal at the same ceremony. Former diplomats from Russia, Cambodia, Chad, and Uruguay, along with sitting ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, and Colombia, were among the recipients.

Wang Yi presented the award in recognition of Hashmi's diplomatic record and his role in advancing Pakistan-China ties.

In his remarks, the Pakistani ambassador dedicated the award to his diplomatic team, his family, and diplomats from both countries who have shaped bilateral relations across generations. He credited Wang Yi directly for his guidance in deepening Pakistan's ties with China. He also acknowledged the cooperation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department.

Hashmi pointed to several decades of joint crisis response between the two countries as a measure of the relationship's depth. This includes the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and shared responses to global public health emergencies.

He described the Pakistan-China friendship as "higher than the mountains, deeper than the oceans, sweeter than honey, and stronger than steel."