国内英语新闻:President Xi congratulates Pakistan on chandelier renewal ceremony at Mazar-e-Quaid

BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping Friday sent a congratulatory message to his Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain on the chandelier renewal ceremony at Mazar-e-Quaid, or the Mausoleum of Founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Xi said that on behalf of the Chinese government and the people, and in his own name, he would like to extend warm congratulations to the Pakistani government and the people on this occasion.

Xi noted that the renewal of the chandelier, a witness of the friendly exchanges between the two countries, will become an important symbol of the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation.

The China-Pakistan friendship benefits not only the fundamental interests of the two nations and peoples but also peace and development in the region and the world at large, he said.

Xi said he values the China-Pakistan relationship and hopes to work with the Pakistani leader to cement the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership of the two countries for further development.

In 1970, the Chinese government presented a crystal chandelier as a national gift to the Pakistani government, which became an often-quoted memory of friendly exchanges between China and Pakistan.

With China's assistance, the Mazar-e-Quaid chandelier renewal project was successfully completed and a new chandelier was installed at the mausoleum on Saturday to replace the one given by the Chinese government 46 years ago.