'Heart-to-heart': Chinese doctor honored with Pakistani civilian honor

China's government-led overseas medical assistance has a 65-year history. For generations, it has been engaged in medical diplomacy, providing support to developing countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. Pan Xiangbin, a renowned Chinese cardiovascular expert, has been conferred the Sitara-i-Pakistan. The Sitara-i-Pakistan is a high-ranking civilian award aimed at recognizing significant contributions to the country. It follows an eight-year-old girl in Pakistan with congenital heart disease regaining health last year. The surgeries were performed by a Chinese medical team led by Professor Pan. Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari, who conferred the award on him in central China's Hunan Province, said: "This is from Pakistan for the people-to-people relationship, and country-to-country relationship. Now, we have a heart-to-heart relationship." President Zardari is in China for a week-long visit to boost cooperation.