PEKING: The Commander of the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Mr Wu Fa-hsien, last night [May 31] assured firm support of the Chinese people and the Army to the Pakistani people and the Army in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and the Kashmiri people in their struggle for their right to self-determination.

Speaking at a banquet given by him in honour of the visiting Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Marshal A. Rahim Khan, he said friendly relations between Pakistan and China were in accord with the fundamental interests of “our two peoples and conducive to the Afro-Asian peoples’ cause of unity against imperialism”. Commander Wu Fa-hsien said: “China and Pakistan are friendly neighbours. There exists a profound traditional friendship between our two peoples. In recent years, the friendship between China and Pakistan has been constantly consolidated and developed and the friendly relations and co-operation between our two Armies have also developed accordingly.”…

In his speech, Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan said: “The friendship between Pakistan and China is founded on mutuality of our interests and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. … The people of Pakistan are gratified at the firm and consistent support that the People’s Republic of China has given to the cause of the Kashmiri people.”

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020